QQuestionChemistry
QuestionChemistry
How many valence electrons does lithium (Li) have available for bonding?
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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:: Identify the element
Lithium (Li) is an alkali metal located in Group 1 (Column 1) of the periodic table.
Step 3:: Determine the electron configuration
The electron configuration of lithium is $$1s^{2} 2s^{1}
Step 4:: Count valence electrons
In the periodic table, elements in Group 1 have 1 valence electron. This can be confirmed by looking at the outermost shell (2s^{1}) of lithium.
Step 5:: Verify the number of valence electrons
The valence electron is the single electron in the 2s orbital, which is available for bonding.
Final Answer
Key Insight: - Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom - For lithium, this is the single electron in the 2s orbital - This single valence electron makes lithium highly reactive and likely to form ionic bonds by losing this electron
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