An oxygen atom has eight protons.
(b) How many more electrons will it take to fill the outermost energy level?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the total number of electrons in a neutral oxygen atom. Since oxygen has 8 protons, it also has 8 electrons to balance the charge.
2. Step 2: Understand the electron shell capacity. The first energy level (closest to the nucleus) can hold up to 2 electrons, and the second energy level can hold up to 8 electrons.
3. Step 3: Determine how many electrons are currently in each energy level. The first shell is full with 2 electrons, so the remaining electrons (8 - 2 = 6) are in the second shell.
4. Step 4: Calculate how many more electrons are needed to fill the outermost shell. Since the second shell can hold 8 electrons and currently has 6, the number of electrons needed to fill it is 8 - 6.
5. Step 5: Express the final answer as the number of electrons required to complete the outermost energy level, which is the difference calculated in Step 4.

Key Concepts

Electron Configuration of Oxygen

Oxygen has 8 electrons arranged in energy levels or shells around the nucleus. The first shell can hold up to 2 electrons, and the second shell can hold up to 8 electrons. For oxygen, 2 electrons fill the first shell, and the remaining 6 occupy the second shell, which is the outermost energy level.

Valence Electrons and Outer Shell Filling

Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom and determine its chemical properties. The outer shell of oxygen can hold 8 electrons, but currently has 6. To fill this shell, oxygen needs 2 more electrons, which explains its tendency to form bonds to achieve a full outer shell.

Energy Levels and Electron Capacity

Energy levels or shells around the nucleus have specific electron capacities: the first shell holds up to 2 electrons, the second up to 8, and so on. Understanding these capacities helps determine how many electrons are needed to fill an atom’s outermost shell, which is crucial for predicting chemical behavior.