Fluorine, with an atomic number of 9, has a total of 9 electrons. Its electronic configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁵. To determine the number of valence electrons, we look at the outermost shell, which in this case is the second shell (n = 2). The second shell contains 2s and 2p orbitals. The 2s orbital is filled with 2 electrons, and the 2p orbital, which can hold a maximum of 6 electrons, is filled with 5 electrons in the case of fluorine.
Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost principal energy level of an atom, which can participate in the formation of chemical bonds. Since the outermost shell of fluorine contains 7 electrons (2 in the 2s orbital and 5 in the 2p orbital), these electrons are considered the valence electrons of fluorine.
So, fluorine has 7 valence electrons, which are highly reactive due to the tendency of fluorine to gain one more electron to achieve a stable noble gas configuration (like neon), thus completing its outer shell.
Here’s a simple way to summarize it: - Atomic number of fluorine: 9 - Electronic configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁵ - Number of valence electrons: 7
This high reactivity due to its valence electrons makes fluorine crucial in various chemical reactions and compounds, including those used in dental health (like toothpaste), refrigerants, and certain pharmaceuticals.
