Final answer:
To find the total number of valence electrons in CO₂, add the 4 valence electrons from carbon to the 12 valence electrons from the two oxygen atoms, giving a total of 16 valence electrons.
Step-by-step explanation:
Determine the Total Number of Valence Electrons in CO₂
To determine the total number of valence electrons for CO₂ (carbon dioxide), you add together the valence electrons from each atom. Carbon (C) is in group 14 of the periodic table and has 4 valence electrons. Each oxygen (O) atom is in group 16 and has 6 valence electrons. Therefore, for CO₂:
- Carbon has 4 valence electrons.
- Each oxygen atom has 6 valence electrons, and there are two oxygen atoms, giving a total of 12 valence electrons from oxygen.
Adding these together:
4 (from C) + 12 (from 2 O) = 16 valence electrons in total for CO₂.