What is the valence shell of an atom?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the valence shell of an atom, which refers to the outermost shell of electrons that determines the atom's chemical properties and bonding behavior.
Answer
The valence shell is the outermost shell of any atom.
The valence shell is the outermost shell of any atom, and it contains the valence electrons.
Answer for screen readers
The valence shell is the outermost shell of any atom, and it contains the valence electrons.
More Information
The valence shell is important because it determines how an atom will interact and bond with other atoms. Atoms tend to be more stable when they have a full valence shell, often leading them to form bonds to achieve this configuration.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing the valence shell with inner electron shells. Remember that only the outermost shell of an atom is the valence shell.
Sources
- The Valence Shell - Atomic Elements - NDE-Ed.org - nde-ed.org
- Valence electron - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
- 3.7: Electrons and Valence Shells - Chemistry LibreTexts - chem.libretexts.org
