Alphabetical

valence electron

[noun]

Electrons that can be actively involved in chemical change; usually electrons in the shell with the highest value of n (electrons in the "outermost" shell of an atom). For example, sodium's ground state electron configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1; the 3s electron is the only valence electron in the atom. Valence electrons determine the chemical properties of an atom and are the only electrons that participate in chemical bonding.


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