QQuestionChemistry
QuestionChemistry
How many valence electrons does hydrogen need to be stable?
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Answer
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Step 1:I'll solve this problem step by step, following the specified LaTeX formatting guidelines:
Step 2:: Understand the Concept of Valence Electrons
Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that participate in chemical bonding. For an atom to be stable, it typically needs to achieve a full outer shell.
Step 3:: Examine Hydrogen's Electron Configuration
Hydrogen has the atomic number 1, which means it has only one electron in its electron configuration: $$1s^{1}
Step 4:: Determine Electron Stability for Hydrogen
Hydrogen follows the octet rule (with a slight modification for small atoms). To be stable, hydrogen needs to complete its first electron shell.
Step 5:: Calculate Needed Valence Electrons
The first electron shell (for hydrogen) is complete with 2 electrons. Since hydrogen currently has only 1 electron, it needs 1 more electron to be stable.
Final Answer
Key Insight: This is why hydrogen readily forms bonds with other atoms, typically sharing or gaining one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration.
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