Valence Electrons in Tellurium (Te)
Calculate the number of valence electrons in Tellurium using its electron configuration step by step.
Valence Electrons in Tellurium
Determine the number of valence electrons in Tellurium (Te, Element 52)
Step 1: Look up the electronic configuration for Tellurium
The abbreviated (condensed) ground electronic configuration for Tellurium is:
[Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p4
Calculate Electronic Configuration for Tellurium
Step 2: Identify the outermost electrons using the electronic configuration
Electrons in atomic orbitals outside the [Kr] core are the outermost electrons:
4d10 5s2 5p4
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4d10 | 4 | d | 10 |
| 5s2 | 5 | s | 2 |
| 5p4 | 5 | p | 4 |
The outermost electrons with the largest principal quantum number (in this case, n = 5) are valence electrons.
Answer
Tellurium (Te) has 6 (2 + 4) valence electrons.
