Final answer:
The compound C6H5COOH, known as benzoic acid, has a total of 46 valence electrons calculated by summing up the valence electrons contributed by each carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atom present in the molecule.
Step-by-step explanation:
The compound C6H5COOH, commonly known as benzoic acid, contains several types of atoms, each contributing a different number of valence electrons. To find the total number of valence electrons in the molecule, we will calculate the contributions from each type of atom separately and then add them up.
Carbon (C) atoms: There are 7 carbon atoms in C6H5COOH (6 in the ring and 1 in the COOH group). Carbon is in group 14 and has 4 valence electrons, so 7 C × 4 e-/C = 28 valence electrons.
- Hydrogen (H) atoms: There are 5 hydrogen atoms directly bonded to the carbon ring and 1 hydrogen atom in the COOH group. Hydrogen has 1 valence electron, so 6 H × 1 e-/H = 6 valence electrons.
- Oxygen (O) atoms: There are 2 oxygen atoms in the COOH group. Oxygen is in group 16 and has 6 valence electrons, so 2 O × 6 e-/O = 12 valence electrons.
Adding these together, the total number of valence electrons in C6H5COOH is 28 + 6 + 12 = 46 valence electrons.