Valence Electrons in Aluminum (Al)
Calculate the number of valence electrons in Aluminum using its electron configuration step by step.
Valence Electrons in Aluminum
Determine the number of valence electrons in Aluminum (Al, Element 13)
Step 1: Look up the electronic configuration for Aluminum
The abbreviated (condensed) ground electronic configuration for Aluminum is:
[Ne] 3s2 3p1
Calculate Electronic Configuration for Aluminum
Step 2: Identify the outermost electrons using the electronic configuration
Electrons in atomic orbitals outside the [Ne] core are the outermost electrons:
3s2 3p1
Step 3: Use the principle quantum number to identify the valence electrons
Extract the principle quantum number, n, and number of electrons from the electron configuration:
| Electron Configuration | n | Orbital | Number of Electrons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3s2 | 3 | s | 2 |
| 3p1 | 3 | p | 1 |
The outermost electrons with the largest principal quantum number (in this case, n = 3) are valence electrons.
Answer
Aluminum (Al) has 3 (2 + 1) valence electrons.
