Consider the element silicon, Si. (c) Which subshells hold the valence electrons?

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Identify the atomic number of silicon (Si), which is 14.

Write the electron configuration for silicon: 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^2.

Determine the highest principal quantum number (n) in the electron configuration, which is 3.

Identify the subshells associated with the highest principal quantum number: 3s and 3p.

Conclude that the valence electrons of silicon are in the 3s and 3p subshells.

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Electron Configuration

Electron configuration describes the distribution of electrons in an atom's orbitals. For silicon (Si), which has 14 electrons, the electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p². This notation indicates how electrons fill the various subshells, with the outermost electrons being the valence electrons.

Valence Electrons

Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that are involved in chemical bonding. For silicon, the valence electrons are found in the 3s and 3p subshells, specifically the two electrons in the 3s subshell and the two electrons in the 3p subshell, totaling four valence electrons.

Subshells and Orbitals

Subshells are divisions of electron shells that contain orbitals, where electrons are likely to be found. The main subshells are s, p, d, and f, with s holding a maximum of 2 electrons, p holding up to 6, and so on. In silicon, the relevant subshells for valence electrons are the 3s and 3p subshells, which determine its chemical properties.