Which of the following elements has 8 valence electrons?

• A. Fluorine (F)
• B. Sodium (Na)
• C. Oxygen (O)
• D. Neon (Ne)

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom, which determine its chemical properties and bonding behavior.
2. Recall the electron configuration of each element to identify the number of valence electrons:
3. For Fluorine (F), the electron configuration ends in 2s\^2 2p\^5, so it has 7 valence electrons in the second shell.
4. For Sodium (Na), the electron configuration ends in 3s\^1, so it has 1 valence electron in the third shell.
5. For Oxygen (O), the electron configuration ends in 2s\^2 2p\^4, so it has 6 valence electrons in the second shell.
6. For Neon (Ne), the electron configuration ends in 2s\^2 2p\^6, so it has 8 valence electrons in the second shell, making it a noble gas with a full valence shell.