Valence Electrons in Niobium (Nb)
Calculate the number of valence electrons in Niobium using its electron configuration step by step.
Valence Electrons in Niobium
Determine the number of valence electrons in Niobium (Nb, Element 41)
Step 1: Look up the electronic configuration for Niobium
The abbreviated (condensed) ground electronic configuration for Niobium is:
[Kr] 4d4 5s1
Calculate Electronic Configuration for Niobium
Step 2: Identify the outermost electrons using the electronic configuration
Electrons in atomic orbitals outside the [Kr] core are the outermost electrons:
4d4 5s1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4d4 | 4 | d | 4 |
| 5s1 | 5 | s | 1 |
The outermost electrons with the largest principal quantum number (in this case, n = 5) are valence electrons.
Answer
Niobium (Nb) has 1 valence electron(s).
