Question

Which of the following is/are true about valence electrons? (Select all that apply)

a) They are located in the outermost energy level of an atom
b) They determine an element’s chemical properties
c) The number of valence electrons is the same for all elements
d) Valence electrons participate in the formation of chemical bonds

Answer 1

Valence electrons are located in the outermost energy level, determine an element's chemical properties, and are involved in the formation of chemical bonds. The number of valence electrons varies among different elements.

Step-by-step explanation:

The following statements are true about valence electrons:

• (a) They are located in the outermost energy level of an atom.
• (b) They determine an element’s chemical properties.
• (d) Valence electrons participate in the formation of chemical bonds.

Statement (c) is not true because the number of valence electrons varies among different elements. The elements in the same group of the periodic table have the same number of valence electrons, which is why they often exhibit similar chemical properties. Valence electrons are critical in understanding how atoms will interact with each other, form molecules, and how reactive or stable an atom might be.