How many valence electrons does xenon have
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: 8 valence electrons
Explanation:
Xenon (Xe) is a noble gas with the atomic number 54. This means that a xenon atom has 54 electrons arranged in energy levels or shells around the nucleus. The electrons are distributed across these shells according to the principles of quantum mechanics.
To determine the number of valence electrons, we focus only on the electrons in the outermost energy level (shell) of the atom. These are the electrons that participate in chemical bonding and reactions.
Here’s how xenon’s electrons are arranged in shells:
- 1st shell: 2 electrons
- 2nd shell: 8 electrons
- 3rd shell: 18 electrons
- 4th shell: 18 electrons
- 5th shell (valence shell): 8 electrons
The fifth shell is xenon’s outermost shell, and it contains 8 electrons, making xenon chemically stable under normal conditions. This full outer shell explains why xenon, like other noble gases, is largely unreactive. At room temperature, xenon exists as a monoatomic gas and does not easily form compounds.
However, under special laboratory conditions (such as high pressure or the presence of highly electronegative elements like fluorine), xenon can form compounds such as xenon difluoride (XeF₂) or xenon tetraoxide (XeO₄). These rare compounds highlight that while xenon is stable, it is not completely inert.
In summary, xenon has 8 valence electrons, which gives it a full outer shell, placing it in Group 18 of the periodic table and making it part of the noble gases—elements known for their chemical stability.