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Multiple Choice
How many valence electrons does an atom of oxygen (O) have?
A
2
B
4
C
6
D
8
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the atomic number of oxygen, which is 8. This means an oxygen atom has 8 electrons in total.
Recall that electrons are arranged in energy levels (shells) around the nucleus. The first shell can hold up to 2 electrons, and the second shell can hold up to 8 electrons.
Distribute the 8 electrons of oxygen into the shells: 2 electrons fill the first shell, and the remaining electrons go into the second shell.
Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell. For oxygen, the outermost shell is the second shell.
Count the electrons in the second shell to find the number of valence electrons. For oxygen, this number is 6.