What are the valence electrons of helium (He)?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the number of valence electrons present in the element helium (He), which is a chemical element. To understand this, we consider that valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom and are crucial in determining how an element behaves in chemical reactions. Helium is in group 18 of the periodic table and is known to have a full outer electron shell.
Answer
2 valence electrons
The final answer is 2 valence electrons
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is 2 valence electrons
More Information
Helium has a complete outer shell with two electrons in its first and only shell (1s^2). It belongs to group 18 of the periodic table, which contains the noble gases.
Tips
A common mistake is to think helium might have more than two valence electrons because it is in group 18. Unlike other elements in that group, helium only has two electrons, conforming to the duet rule.
Sources
- How many valence electrons does helium have? - Socratic - socratic.org
- Valence electrons in helium? - Chemistry Stack Exchange - chemistry.stackexchange.com
- The periodic table, electron shells, and orbitals - Khan Academy - khanacademy.org
