Use the periodic table to answer the question.

An illustration shows the periodic table of elements. The elements in the periodic table are arranged in groups (columns numbered 1 through 18) and periods (rows numbered 1 through 7) such that the atomic number increases along a period from left to right. The elements are divided into the following categories: · Alkali metals · Alkaline earth metals · Transition metals · Post-transition metals · Lanthanides · Actinides · Metalloids · Nonmetals · Noble gases · Unknown The elements are also classified on the basis of their physical states as follows: · Solid · Liquid · Gas · Unknown The element sulfur is enlarged with the following properties. · Chemical symbol: S · Name: Sulfur · Atomic Number: 16 · Atomic mass: 32.06 · Common oxidation states: 6, 4, 2, negative 2 · Electronegativity: 2.58 · Ionization energies: 999.589 · Electron configuration: [Ne] 3s2 3p4



How many valence electrons are in an atom of the element fluorine?

(1 point)
Responses

eight
eight

two
two

seven
seven

five

1 answer

Fluorine (F) has the atomic number 9, which means it has 9 electrons. The electron configuration for fluorine is 1s² 2s² 2p⁵.

The valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell, which for fluorine are the 2s and 2p electrons. In this case, fluorine has:

  • 2 electrons in the 2s subshell
  • 5 electrons in the 2p subshell

Adding these together, fluorine has a total of 7 valence electrons.

Therefore, the correct response is:

seven