Valence Electrons in Plutonium (Pu)
Calculate the number of valence electrons in Plutonium using its electron configuration step by step.
Valence Electrons in Plutonium
Determine the number of valence electrons in Plutonium (Pu, Element 94)
Step 1: Look up the electronic configuration for Plutonium
The abbreviated (condensed) ground electronic configuration for Plutonium is:
[Rn] 5f6 7s2
Calculate Electronic Configuration for Plutonium
Step 2: Identify the outermost electrons using the electronic configuration
Electrons in atomic orbitals outside the [Rn] core are the outermost electrons:
5f6 7s2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5f6 | 5 | f | 6 |
| 7s2 | 7 | s | 2 |
The outermost electrons with the largest principal quantum number (in this case, n = 7) are valence electrons.
Answer
Plutonium (Pu) has 2 valence electron(s).
