How many valence electrons does a fluorine atom have?

• A. 7
• B. 8
• C. 5
• D. 6

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the element in question, which is fluorine (F).
2. Recall that the number of valence electrons corresponds to the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom.
3. Determine the electron configuration of fluorine: Fluorine has an atomic number of 9, so its electrons are arranged as 1s\^2 2s\^2 2p\^5.
4. Focus on the outermost shell, which is the second shell (n=2), containing the 2s and 2p electrons.
5. Count the electrons in the 2s and 2p orbitals: 2 electrons in 2s and 5 electrons in 2p, totaling 7 valence electrons.