Valence Electrons in Silicon (Si)
Calculate the number of valence electrons in Silicon using its electron configuration step by step.
Valence Electrons in Silicon
Determine the number of valence electrons in Silicon (Si, Element 14)
Step 1: Look up the electronic configuration for Silicon
The abbreviated (condensed) ground electronic configuration for Silicon is:
[Ne] 3s2 3p2
Calculate Electronic Configuration for Silicon
Step 2: Identify the outermost electrons using the electronic configuration
Electrons in atomic orbitals outside the [Ne] core are the outermost electrons:
3s2 3p2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3s2 | 3 | s | 2 |
| 3p2 | 3 | p | 2 |
The outermost electrons with the largest principal quantum number (in this case, n = 3) are valence electrons.
Answer
Silicon (Si) has 4 (2 + 2) valence electrons.
