How do you determine the number of electrons needed to fill the outer shell of an element?
1 Answer
Dec 25, 2017
Explanation:
The number of valence electrons needed to fill its shell can be determined by inputting the shell level, n, squaring it, and by multiplying by 2.
- Shell 1 holds 2 valence
e^-e− .
2(1^2)=22(12)=2 - Shell 2 = 8
2(2^2)=82(22)=8 - Shell 3 = 18
2(3^2)=182(32)=18 - Shell 4 = 32
2(4^2)=322(42)=32 - Shell 5 = 50
2(5^2)=502(52)=50
You can decide whether you want to memorize the sequence in which each level can hold, "2, 8, 18, 32, 50, etc.," or you can remember this simple function of