How many valence electrons are in oxygen?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the number of valence electrons in the element oxygen (O). Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that are involved in chemical bonding. For oxygen, we will determine the number of these outermost electrons.
Answer
6
The final answer is that oxygen has 6 valence electrons.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is that oxygen has 6 valence electrons.
More Information
Valence electrons determine an atom's chemical properties and its ability to bond with other atoms.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing group number with valence electrons. Remember, for groups 1-2 and 13-18, the group number (last digit for 13-18) often gives the count of valence electrons.
Sources
- Valence Electrons and the Periodic Table - chemicool.com
- General Chemistry: Principles, Patterns, and Applications - chem.libretexts.org
AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify critical information
