Multiple Choice
Which of the following best explains why the valency of carbon is 4, even though it has 6 electrons?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
Valence Electrons of Elements
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How many valence electrons does an iron (Fe) atom have in its ground state?
A
6
B
4
C
2
D
8
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall that valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that can participate in chemical bonding.
Determine the electron configuration of iron (Fe) in its ground state. Iron has an atomic number of 26, so it has 26 electrons.
Write the electron configuration for Fe: \$1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2 3d^6$.
Identify the valence electrons by looking at the electrons in the outermost shell(s). For transition metals like Fe, valence electrons include those in the \$4s\( and \)3d$ orbitals.
Count the electrons in the \$4s\( and \)3d\( orbitals: \)4s^2\( and \)3d^6\(, but typically only the \)4s$ electrons are considered valence electrons for Fe, so Fe has 2 valence electrons.
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