Final answer:
Valence electrons are electrons located in the outermost shell/energy level of an atom. They participate in chemical bonding and determine an element's chemical properties and reactivity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Valence electrons are electrons located in the outermost shell/energy level of an atom.
These electrons are the ones that can participate in chemical bonding and determine the element's chemical properties and reactivity.
Core electrons, on the other hand, are all the electrons in an atom except for the valence electrons.
An element with a full valence energy level is more stable and less likely to react compared to those with an incomplete valence energy level.