Question #128be

1 Answer
Shivangi Mangotra
Apr 16, 2015

The capability of an atom to gain or lose it valence electrons in order to complete it's valence shell ( last shell) is known as valency.
For Example,
SODIUM
ATOMIC NUMBER- 11
ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION- K-2,L-8,M-1
enter image source here

Atom of every element wants to have eight electrons in it's valence shell. As you can see above sodium has one electron in it's valence shell. In order to get a completely filled outermost shell it has to lose this one electron. So, it will have a valency of 1.

  • SULPHUR
    ATOMIC NUMBER- 16
    ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION- K-2, L-8, M-6
    enter image source here
    As, sulphur has six electrons in it's valence shell it has to gain 2 more electrons to have a full valence shell and it will have a valency of 2.
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