Valenssielektronimäärä

Valenssielektronimäärä refers to the number of electrons in the outermost electron shell of an atom. These electrons are also known as valence electrons. The arrangement of electrons in an atom's shells, particularly the valence shell, determines its chemical properties and how it will interact with other atoms. Atoms tend to gain, lose, or share their valence electrons to achieve a more stable electron configuration, often resembling that of noble gases which have a full outermost shell. This tendency to achieve stability through electron interactions is the basis of chemical bonding. For example, elements in Group 1 of the periodic table, like sodium, have one valence electron and tend to lose it to form a positive ion. Elements in Group 17, like chlorine, have seven valence electrons and tend to gain one electron to form a negative ion. The number of valence electrons is a key factor in predicting an element's reactivity and the types of compounds it can form. This concept is fundamental to understanding chemical reactions and the structure of molecules.