Question

What are the valence of Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Carbon?

1) 1, 2, 3, 4
2) 2, 4, 3, 2
3) 1, 6, 5, 4
4) 1, 2, 5, 4

Answer 1

3) 1, 6, 5, 4. The valence of Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Carbon corresponds to the number of valence electrons in each of their respective outer shells: 1, 6, 5, and 4. Thus, the correct answer is:

Step-by-step explanation:

The valence of an element is the number of electrons present in the outer shell of its atoms, which can participate in chemical bonding.

The valence of Hydrogen is 1, as it belongs to group 1 of the periodic table and thus has one valence electron. Oxygen, which is in group 16, has a valence of 6 valence electrons.

Nitrogen falls in group 15, having a valence of 5. Lastly, Carbon, positioned in group 14, possesses a valence of 4, making the correct answer 3) 1, 6, 5, 4. When these elements form compounds, they tend to share electrons with other atoms to fulfill the octet rule, leading to stable electron configurations.