Valence Electrons in Indium (In)
Calculate the number of valence electrons in Indium using its electron configuration step by step.
Valence Electrons in Indium
Determine the number of valence electrons in Indium (In, Element 49)
Step 1: Look up the electronic configuration for Indium
The abbreviated (condensed) ground electronic configuration for Indium is:
[Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p1
Calculate Electronic Configuration for Indium
Step 2: Identify the outermost electrons using the electronic configuration
Electrons in atomic orbitals outside the [Kr] core are the outermost electrons:
4d10 5s2 5p1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4d10 | 4 | d | 10 |
| 5s2 | 5 | s | 2 |
| 5p1 | 5 | p | 1 |
The outermost electrons with the largest principal quantum number (in this case, n = 5) are valence electrons.
Answer
Indium (In) has 3 (2 + 1) valence electrons.
