How many valence electrons does a fluorine atom have?

• A. 6
• B. 7
• C. 8
• D. 5

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell (energy level) of an atom that participate in chemical bonding.
2. Identify the atomic number of fluorine, which is 9, meaning it has 9 electrons in total.
3. Determine the electron configuration of fluorine: 1s\^2 2s\^2 2p\^5.
4. Recognize that the outermost shell for fluorine is the second shell, which contains the 2s and 2p electrons.
5. Count the electrons in the outermost shell: 2 electrons in 2s and 5 electrons in 2p, totaling 7 valence electrons.