Valence Electrons in Cerium (Ce)
Calculate the number of valence electrons in Cerium using its electron configuration step by step.
Valence Electrons in Cerium
Determine the number of valence electrons in Cerium (Ce, Element 58)
Step 1: Look up the electronic configuration for Cerium
The abbreviated (condensed) ground electronic configuration for Cerium is:
[Xe] 4f1 5d1 6s2
Calculate Electronic Configuration for Cerium
Step 2: Identify the outermost electrons using the electronic configuration
Electrons in atomic orbitals outside the [Xe] core are the outermost electrons:
4f1 5d1 6s2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4f1 | 4 | f | 1 |
| 5d1 | 5 | d | 1 |
| 6s2 | 6 | s | 2 |
The outermost electrons with the largest principal quantum number (in this case, n = 6) are valence electrons.
Answer
Cerium (Ce) has 2 valence electron(s).
