Why are valence electrons able to participate in chemical bonding?

• A. They are found only in the innermost shell and are not involved in bonding.
• B. They are responsible for the color of compounds but do not affect bonding.
• C. They are located in the outermost energy level and can be shared or transferred to achieve stable electron configurations.
• D. They are tightly bound to the nucleus and cannot interact with other atoms.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that valence electrons are the electrons located in the outermost energy level (shell) of an atom.
2. Recognize that these outermost electrons are less tightly bound to the nucleus compared to inner-shell electrons, making them more available to interact with other atoms.
3. Know that chemical bonding involves either sharing (covalent bonding) or transferring (ionic bonding) valence electrons between atoms to achieve a more stable electron configuration, often resembling the nearest noble gas configuration.
4. Realize that inner-shell electrons are not involved in bonding because they are held more tightly by the nucleus and do not participate in interactions with other atoms.
5. Therefore, valence electrons are able to participate in chemical bonding because they are accessible and can be shared or transferred to form stable compounds.