How many valence electrons does the element neon (Ne) have?

• A. 10
• B. 8
• C. 6
• D. 2

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the atomic number of neon (Ne), which is 10. This means neon has 10 electrons in total.
2. Recall that valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell (energy level) of an atom.
3. Determine the electron configuration of neon: 1s\^2 2s\^2 2p\^6. This shows how electrons are distributed in each shell.
4. Recognize that the first shell (1s) holds 2 electrons, and the second shell (2s and 2p) holds the remaining electrons.
5. Count the electrons in the outermost shell (second shell): 2 (from 2s) + 6 (from 2p) = 8 valence electrons.