The atomic number of neon is 10. Neon is an inert element and its symbol is ‘Ne’. Neon atoms do not participate in the formation of any bonds. This article discusses in detail the valence electrons of neon atom.
Table of Contents
What are the valence electrons of neon(Ne)?
Neon(Ne) is an inert element. Neon is an element of group-18. The valence electron is the total number of electrons in the last orbit(shell). The total number of electrons in the last shell after the electron configuration of neon is called the valence electrons of neon(Ne).
The valence electrons determine the properties of the element and participate in the formation of bonds. The tenth element in the periodic table is neon(Ne). That is, the atom of the neon element has a total of ten electrons.
The electron configuration of neon shows that the last shell(orbit) of neon has a total of eight electrons. That is, we can easily say that the valence electrons of neon(Ne) are eight. There is an article on this site detailing the electron configuration of neon(Ne), you can read it if you want.
How many electrons and proton does the neon(Ne) atom have?
The nucleus is located in the center of the atom. Protons and neutrons are located in the nucleus. The atomic number of neon(Ne) is 10. The atomic number is the number of protons.
That is, the number of protons in the neon(Ne) is 10. Electrons equal to protons are located in a circular shell(orbit) outside the nucleus. That is, the neon(Ne) atom has total of ten electrons.
How to determine the valence electron of neon(Ne)?
Now we will know how to easily determine the valence electrons of neon(Ne). The valence electron has to be determined by following a few steps. The electron configuration is one of them. It is not possible to determine the valence electron without electron configuration.
Knowing the electron configuration in the right way, it is very easy to determine the valence electrons of all the elements. There is an article published on this site detailing the electron configuration, you can read it if you want. However, this article briefly discusses electron configuration.
Scientist Niels Bohr was the first to give an idea of the atom’s orbit. He provided a model of the atom in 1913. The complete idea of the orbit is given there.
The electrons of the atom revolve around the nucleus in a certain circular path. These circular paths are called orbit( shell). These orbits(shell) are expressed by n. [ n = 1,2 3 4 . . .]
K is the name of the first orbit(shell), L is the second, M is the third, N is the name of the fourth orbit(shell). The electron holding capacity of each orbit is 2n2. [Where, n = 1,2 3,4. . .]
Now, n = 1 for K orbit. The electron holding capacity of K orbit is 2n2 = 2 × 12 = 2 electrons.
For L orbit, n = 2. The electron holding capacity of the L orbit is 2n2 = 2 × 22 = 8 electrons.
In addition to this method, electron configuration can be done through sub-orbits. The German physicist Aufbau first proposed an idea of electron configuration through sub-orbits. The Aufbau method is to do electron configuration through the sub-energy level. These sub-orbitals are expressed by ‘l’.
The Aufbau principle is that the electrons present in the atom will first complete the lowest energy orbital and then gradually continue to complete the higher energy orbital. These orbitals are named s, p, d, f. The electron holding capacity of these orbitals is s = 2, p = 6, d = 10 and f = 14.
However, valence electrons can be easily identified by arranging electrons according to the Bohr principle. Now we will learn how to determine the valence electrons of neon(Ne).
Step-1: First we need to know the total number of electrons in the neon(Ne) atom. To know the number of electrons, you need to know the number of protons in neon. And to know the number of protons, you need to know the atomic number of the neon element.
To know the atomic number we need to take the help of a periodic table. It is necessary to know the atomic number of neon(Ne) elements from the periodic table. The atomic number is the number of protons and electrons equal to protons located outside the nucleus.
That is, we can finally say that there are electrons equal to the atomic number in the neon(Ne) atom. From the periodic table, we see that the atomic number of neon(Ne) is 10. That is, a neon(Ne) atom has a total of ten electrons.
Step-2: Step 2 is very important. In this step, the electrons of neon(Ne) have to be arranged. We know that neon atoms have a total of ten electrons. The electron configuration of neon(Ne) shows that there are two electrons in the K shell and eight in the L shell.
That is, the first shell of neon has two and the second shell has eight electrons. The electron configuration of neon(Ne) through the sub-orbit is 1s2 2s2 2p6.
Step-3: The third step is to diagnose the valence shell(orbit). The last shell after the electron configuration is called the valence shell(orbit). The total number of electrons in a valence shell(orbit) is called a valence electron.
The electron configuration of neon(Ne) shows that the last shell(orbit) of neon has eight electrons. Therefore, the valence electrons of neon(Ne) are eight. In this way, the valence electrons of all the elements can be determined.
Determination of the valency(valence) of neon
The ability of one atom of an element to join another atom during the formation of a molecule is called valency(valence). The number of unpaired electrons in the last orbit of an element is the valency(valence) of that element.
The electron configuration of neon 1s2 2s2 2p6. The electron configuration of neon(Ne) shows that neon is an inert element. There are eight electrons in the last orbit of a neon atom. The neon atom has no unpaired electrons. Therefore, the valency of the neon(Ne) atom is 0.
Reasons for placing neon in group-18 of the periodic table
The electron configuration of neon shows that the number of electrons in the last orbit of the neon atom is 8. We know that the number of electrons in the last orbit of an element is the number of groups in that element.
Accordingly, the group of neon is 8 but neon is an inert element. All inert elements are placed in group number 18 in the periodic table. Therefore, neon is placed in group-18 instead of group-8.
Why is neon an inert gas?
The elements in group-18 of the periodic table are inert gases. The inert gases of Group-18 are helium (He), neon(Ne), argon(Ar), krypton(Kr), xenon(Xe), and radon(Rn). We know that the element in group-18 is neon(Ne).
The electron configuration of neon shows that the orbit at the end of neon is filled with electrons. Neon does not want to exchange or share any electrons because the last orbit of neon is full of electrons. And neon does not form any compounds because it does not share any electrons.
They do not participate in chemical bonding and chemical reactions. For this, they are called inert elements. The inert elements are in the form of gases at normal temperatures. For this inert elements are called inert gases. Again for this same reason, inert gas is called a noble gas.
