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How many inner, outer, and valence electrons are present in an atom of each of the following elements? (a) o inner: 2 outer: 6 valence: 6 (b) sn inner: 46 outer: 4 valence: 4 (c) ca inner: 18 outer: 2 valence: 2 (d) fe inner: outer: valence: (e) se inner: 28 outer: 6 valence: 6

User Rjsang
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Final answer:

Iron (Fe) has 18 inner electrons, 8 outer electrons, and 2 valence electrons. Selenium (Se) has 28 inner electrons, 6 outer electrons, and 6 valence electrons. Valence electrons determine an element's chemical properties and bonding behavior.

Step-by-step explanation:

The number of inner, outer, and valence electrons in an atom can be determined by looking at its position in the periodic table and its electron configuration. Valence electrons are found in the outermost shell of an atom and are responsible for an atom's chemical properties and bonding behaviors. The inner electrons are the electrons that are not in the outermost shell. Let's finish the list provided by defining the missing information for Fe and Se:

  • (d) Fe (Iron) - Inner electrons: 18, Outer electrons: 8, Valence electrons: 2 (belongs to Group 8 but has 2 electrons in the outermost shell)
  • (e) Se (Selenium) - Inner electrons: 28, Outer electrons: 6, Valence electrons: 6 (matches the stated information)

To clarify, we calculate the number of inner electrons by subtracting valence electrons from the total number of electrons for a neutral atom. For iron (Fe), which is in the fourth period and Group 8 of the periodic table, it has a total of 26 electrons (atomic number equals the number of electrons in a neutral atom). The filling order of the shells is 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d. Thus, Fe has 2 valence electrons in the 4s shell and the rest are considered inner electrons. For Selenium (Se) which is in the fourth period and Group 16, it follows the same logic and hence has 6 valence electrons in its outermost p shell (4s^2 4p^4).

User ISeeJay
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