Textbook Question
(c) An atom has the electron configuration 1s22s22p63s23p2. How many valence electrons does the atom have?
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Ch.8 - Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding
Brown15th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780137542970
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 - Introduction: Matter, Energy, and Measurement146
- Ch.2 - Atoms, Molecules, and Ions200
- Ch.3 - Chemical Reactions and Reaction Stoichiometry176
- Ch.4 - Reactions in Aqueous Solution155
- Ch.5 - Thermochemistry126
- Ch.6 - Electronic Structure of Atoms131
- Ch.7 - Periodic Properties of the Elements126
- Ch.8 - Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding123
- Ch.9 - Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theories143
- Ch.10 - Gases147
- Ch.11 - Liquids and Intermolecular Forces91
- Ch.12 - Solids and Modern Materials122
- Ch.13 - Properties of Solutions126
- Ch.14 - Chemical Kinetics174
- Ch.15 - Chemical Equilibrium101
- Ch.16 - Acid-Base Equilibria139
- Ch.17 - Additional Aspects of Aqueous Equilibria146
- Ch.18 - Chemistry of the Environment72
- Ch.19 - Chemical Thermodynamics129
- Ch.20 - Electrochemistry142
- Ch.21 - Nuclear Chemistry101
- Ch.22 - Chemistry of the Nonmetals68
- Ch.23 - Transition Metals and Coordination Chemistry66
- Ch.24 - The Chemistry of Life: Organic and Biological Chemistry10
Brown15th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780137542970Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 8, Problem 12a
(a) True or false: The hydrogen atom is most stable when it has a full octet of electrons.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of electron configuration and stability for hydrogen.
Recall that hydrogen has only one electron and one proton, making it the simplest atom.
Recognize that the octet rule applies to atoms that can have up to eight electrons in their valence shell, typically seen in elements of the second period and beyond.
Note that hydrogen is stable with a full valence shell of 2 electrons, not 8, as it only has the 1s orbital available.
Conclude that the statement is false because hydrogen is most stable with 2 electrons, not a full octet.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Octet Rule
The octet rule is a chemical principle that states atoms tend to bond in such a way that they have eight electrons in their valence shell, achieving a stable electron configuration similar to that of noble gases. This rule is particularly applicable to main group elements and helps explain the formation of chemical bonds.
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01:27
Octet Rule
Hydrogen's Electron Configuration
Hydrogen, with only one electron, is unique in that it can achieve stability by having a full outer shell with just two electrons, rather than eight. This is because hydrogen's first and only energy level can hold a maximum of two electrons, making its most stable state the duet configuration.
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01:33Electron Configuration Example
Stability in Atoms
Stability in atoms is often associated with having a complete outer electron shell. For most elements, this means achieving an octet, but for hydrogen, stability is reached with two electrons. Understanding this distinction is crucial for evaluating the stability of different elements and their bonding behavior.
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02:32Band of Stability: Atomic Forces
Related Practice
Textbook Question
(a) Write the electron configuration for the element titanium, Ti. How many valence electrons does this atom possess?
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Textbook Question
(b) Hafnium, Hf, is also found in group 4. Write the electron configuration for Hf.
Textbook Question
(b) How many valence electrons does a nitrogen atom possess?
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Textbook Question
(a) True or false: An element's number of valence electrons is the same as its atomic number.
Textbook Question
Consider the element silicon, Si. (c) Which subshells hold the valence electrons?
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