Calculate the number of valence electrons in Lithium using its electron configuration step by step.
Determine the number of valence electrons in Lithium (Li, Element 3)
The abbreviated (condensed) ground electronic configuration for Lithium is:
[He] 2s1
Calculate Electronic Configuration for Lithium
Electrons in atomic orbitals outside the [He] core are the outermost electrons:
2s1
Extract the principle quantum number, n, and number of electrons from the electron configuration:
Electron Configuration | n | Orbital | Number of Electrons |
---|---|---|---|
2s1 | 2 | s | 1 |
The outermost electrons with the largest principal quantum number (in this case, n = 2) are valence electrons.
Lithium (Li) has 1 valence electron(s).