An oxygen atom has eight protons.
(b) How many more electrons will it take to fill the outermost energy level?

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Identify the number of electrons in a neutral oxygen atom. Since oxygen has 8 protons, it also has 8 electrons to balance the charge.

Step 2: Understand the electron shell configuration. The first energy level (closest to the nucleus) can hold up to 2 electrons, and the second energy level can hold up to 8 electrons.

Step 3: Determine how many electrons are in each energy level for oxygen. The first shell will be full with 2 electrons, and the remaining electrons will be in the second shell.

Step 4: Calculate how many electrons are currently in the outermost (second) energy level by subtracting the electrons in the first shell from the total electrons.

Step 5: Find how many more electrons are needed to fill the outermost shell by subtracting the current number of electrons in the second shell from the maximum capacity of 8 electrons.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Atomic Structure

An atom consists of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons in energy levels or shells. The number of protons defines the element, while electrons occupy shells around the nucleus. For oxygen, there are 8 protons and typically 8 electrons.

Electron Energy Levels and Shell Capacity

Electrons occupy energy levels or shells around the nucleus, each with a maximum capacity. The first shell can hold up to 2 electrons, and the second shell can hold up to 8 electrons. Electrons fill the innermost shells first before occupying outer shells.

Valence Electrons and Shell Completion

The outermost shell of an atom is called the valence shell, which determines chemical properties. Atoms tend to fill their valence shell to achieve stability, often by gaining, losing, or sharing electrons. For oxygen, the valence shell can hold 8 electrons, but it initially has 6, so it needs 2 more to be full.

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

Isotopes of an element differ from each other in the number of

(a) Protons in the nucleus

(b) Neutrons in the nucleus

(d) a, b, and c are all correct

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Textbook Question

The subatomic particle with the least mass