Final answer:
A neutral bromine atom has seven valence electrons, consistent with its position in group 17 of the periodic table.
Step-by-step explanation:
The neutral atom of bromine has seven valence electrons. In the periodic table, bromine is located in group 17, which is also known as the halogens. All halogens have seven valence electrons, which is evident from their position in the periodic table. This characteristic allows them to easily form compounds by gaining an electron to complete their octet, which is a stable arrangement of eight valence electrons. For example, in a molecule like BrCl3 or BrF3, the bromine atom starts with seven valence electrons, and through the formation of bonds, the molecule has a formal charge of zero and achieves a stable Lewis electron structure.