How many valence electrons are in a neutral atom of tellurium
?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
A neutral atom of tellurium (Te) has 6 valence electrons.
Explanation:
Tellurium is a chemical element with the atomic number 52. This means it has 52 electrons in a neutral state, because the number of electrons equals the number of protons in a neutral atom.
To determine the number of valence electrons, it is important to look at tellurium’s position in the periodic table. Tellurium is in Group 16 and Period 5. Group 16 elements are also known as the chalcogens, and all elements in this group have 6 electrons in their outermost shell, also known as the valence shell.
Let us examine tellurium’s electron configuration:
- The full electron configuration is:
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁴
To find the valence electrons, focus on the outermost shell, which is shell 5 in this case. Shell 5 contains:
- 5s² → 2 electrons
- 5p⁴ → 4 electrons
Adding these gives:
2 (from 5s²) + 4 (from 5p⁴) = 6 valence electrons
Valence electrons are the electrons in the highest principal energy level (the largest number “n” in the configuration), and they are responsible for an atom’s chemical properties and bonding behavior.
In chemical reactions, tellurium tends to gain or share two electrons to complete its octet, which is consistent with it having six valence electrons. This characteristic behavior aligns with other Group 16 elements like oxygen and sulfur.
In conclusion, tellurium has 6 valence electrons, which influence how it interacts chemically, especially when forming compounds with metals or other nonmetals.
