In chemistry, valence electrons are the electrons of an atom that can participat e in the formation of chemical bonds with

other atoms. Valence electrons are the "own " electrons, present in the free neutral atom, that combine with valence electrons of other atoms to form chemical bonds. In a single covalent bond both atoms contribute one valenc e electron to form a shared pair. For main group elements, only the outermost electrons ar e valence electrons. In transition metals, some inner-shell electrons are also valence el ectrons. Valence electrons are important in determining how the atom reacts chemically wi th other atoms. Atoms with a complete (closed) shell of valence electrons (corresponding to an electron configuration s2p6) tend to be chemically inert. Atoms with one or two valence electrons more than a closed shell are highly reactive because the extra electr ons are easily removed to form positive ions. Atoms with one or two valence electrons fewer th an a closed shell are also highly reactive because of a tendency either to gain the missing electrons and form negative ions, or to share electrons and form covalent bonds. Valence electrons have the ability, like electrons in inner shells, to absorb or release energy in the form of photons. This gain or loss of energy can trigger an electron to move (jump) to another shell or even break free from the atom and its valence shell. When a n electron absorbs energy in the form of one or more photons, then it moves to a more oute r shell depending on the amount of energy gained. (See also : electrons in an excited s tate). When an electron loses energy (photons), then it moves to a more inner shell. Valence electrons and electron configuration For main group elements, the number of valence electrons depends on the electron configuration in a simple way, but for transition metals the relationship is mor e complex. For main group elements, valence electrons can be defined as those in the electr onic shell of highest principal quantum number n.[1] For example the electronic configurat ion of phosphorus (P) is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3 so that there are 5 valence electrons (3s 2 3p3), corresponding to a maximum valence for P of 5 as in the molecule PF5. This conf iguration is normally abbreviated to (Ne) 3s2 3p3, where (Ne) signifies the core electron s whose configuration is identical to the noble gas neon. However this simple method does not work for transition metals, which have incom plete nd (i.e. 3d, 4d or 5d) subshells whose energy is normally comparable with that of the (n+1)s electrons. The valence electrons are instead defined as those outside a noble-g

as core.[2] For example, manganese (Mn) has configuration 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d5. This is abbreviated to (Ar) 4s2 3d5, where (Ar) denotes a core configuration identical to that of argon. In this atom, the 3d electrons have energies similar to those of the 4s electrons, and much higher than for the 3s and 3p electrons. In effect there are seven val ence electron s (4s2 3d5) outside the argon-like core. This is consistent with the chemical fa ct that manganese can have oxidation states as high as +7 (in the permanganate ion MnO4). Towards the right of each transition metal series, the d electrons descend to lo wer energies and have less valence electron character. Thus although nickel has in principle ten valence electrons (4s2 3d8), the oxidation state never exceeds four. For zinc and succe eding elements, the 3d subshell is complete and the 3d electrons are considered core electrons. Since the number of valence electrons which actually participate in chemical rea ctions is difficult to predict, the concept of valence electrons is less useful for trans ition metals than for main group elements. As mentioned above, the d electron count provides a mo re useful tool for the understanding of the chemistry of these elements.

When you are looking at the Periodic Table, the horizontal rows (Periods) will t ell you how many shells are required to house the electrons. For example, an element found in the 4th Period will require four shells for its electrons. The vertical columns, exc luding the transition elements, (Groups) will tell how many electrons are in the valence sh ell. This only works using Groups 1A through 8A, not with the B columns. An element in Gro up 5A will have five electrons in its valence shell. So, Carbon, being in Period 2 will require 2 electron shells. Since it is in Gro up 4A, there will be 4 electrons in the valence shell.