Valence Electrons in Lutetium (Lu)
Calculate the number of valence electrons in Lutetium using its electron configuration step by step.
Valence Electrons in Lutetium
Determine the number of valence electrons in Lutetium (Lu, Element 71)
Step 1: Look up the electronic configuration for Lutetium
The abbreviated (condensed) ground electronic configuration for Lutetium is:
[Xe] 4f14 5d1 6s2
Calculate Electronic Configuration for Lutetium
Step 2: Identify the outermost electrons using the electronic configuration
Electrons in atomic orbitals outside the [Xe] core are the outermost electrons:
4f14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4f14 | 4 | f | 14 |
| 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
Lutetium (Lu) has 2 valence electron(s).
