Valence Electrons and Oxidation Numbers

Front

What are valence electrons?

Back

Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that are involved in forming bonds with other atoms.

Front

Why do atoms gain or lose electrons?

Back

Atoms gain or lose electrons to achieve a stable octet, which is a full outer shell of electrons.

Front

How many valence electrons does sulfur have?

Back

Sulfur has 6 valence electrons.

Front

What charge do ions that lose electrons have?

Back

Ions that lose electrons have a positive charge.

Front

What charge do ions that gain electrons have?

Back

Ions that gain electrons have a negative charge.

Front

How many valence electrons does lithium have?

Back

Lithium has 1 valence electron.

Front

How many valence electrons does bromine have?

Back

Bromine has 7 valence electrons.

Front

What is the octet rule?

Back

The octet rule states that atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a full outer shell of 8 electrons.

Front

What is an ion?

Back

An ion is an atom or molecule that has a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.

Front

What is the significance of oxidation numbers?

Back

Oxidation numbers indicate the degree of oxidation of an atom in a compound, helping to determine how electrons are transferred in reactions.