Valence Electrons

 Valence electrons are the electrons in the highest occupied

energy level of the atom.

 Valence electrons are the only electrons generally involved

in bond formation (which we will talk about in the next
unit!)
 Lone Pair - a lone pair refers to a pair of valence
electrons that are not shared with another atom in a
covalent bond and is sometimes called an unshared
pair or non-bonding pair. Lone pairs are found in the
outermost electron shell of atoms. They can be
identified by using a Lewis structure
 Periods: Energy Levels (n)
 Each row in the periodic table is
called a “period”

 The period corresponds to a specific

energy level of the atom

 The top row, Period 1, is closest to the

nucleus, the next one down is Period
2, etc…until you end with Period 7.

 Level 1: s
 Levels 2 and 3: s,p
 Levels 4 and 5: s,p,d
 Levels 6 and 7: s,p,d,f
Bohr Atomic Structures
 Electron Configuration of Na:
1s22s22p63s1

 The first energy level contains 2

electrons. (s orbital…1s2)

 The second level contains 8

electrons. (2s and 2p orbitals…
2s22p6)

 How many electrons do you see in

the outermost level? 3s1…
1electron!

This is the Valence number. Sodium

has 1 Valence electron.