Question

How many valence electrons does $Ne$ have?

Answer 1

Hint: The answer here is based on the basic concept of the general chemistry part which tells us about the atoms and the valence electrons are nothing but the outermost electrons present in the shell.

Complete step by step answer:
In the lower classes of inorganic chemistry, we have studied the basic concepts of the chemistry that deals with the atoms and its electronic configuration and also the valence electrons in an atom.
Let us now refresh those concepts so that we will be able to solve this question.
- Atoms are composed of central nuclei in which the positively charged protons and the neutral species called the neutrons are concentrated.
- Around this nucleus in an orbit, the negatively charged particles called the electrons revolve.
Thus, these electrons are present in different numbers based on the atomic number and also each shell has the particular number of electrons in it.
- The atom given that is neon with the atomic symbol $Ne$ has the atomic number 10 and therefore the total number of protons is 10.
- Since the number of protons are always equal to the number of electrons, the total electrons present are also 10 and this can be written in the form of electronic configuration as,
\[1{{s}^{2}}2{{s}^{2}}2{{p}^{6}}\]
- Here, the outermost shell is the one having the number 2 and therefore there are 2 electrons in the 2s shell and 6 electrons in the 2p shell where this is the completely filled outermost orbital.
Thus, the total valence electron present in Neon is 8

Note: Note that the atom Neon has the completely filled outermost shell and this makes the atom very stable and also this is the first element which belongs to the noble gas where the octet rule becomes valid.