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In molecules, the various atoms are assigned chargelike values so the sum of the oxidation numbers equals the charge on the molecule.
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These are the valence electrons.įor ions, the valence equals the electrical charge. These electrons are most distant from the positive nucleus and, therefore, are most easily transferred between atoms in chemical reactions. Valence electrons, which comprise the valence shell of the atom.įor brevity, many chemists record the electron configuration of an atom by giving only its outermost subshell, like 4 s 1 for potassium or 4 s 2 for calcium. The electrons in the highest numbered subshells are the Study the third column of complete electronic configurations carefully so you understand how electrons are added to the subshell of lowest energy until it reaches its capacity then the subshell of the next energy level begins to be filled. The electronic configuration of an atom is given by listing its subshells with the number of electrons in each subshell, as shown in Tableġ. Quiz: Introduction to Oxidation-Reduction Reactions.Introduction to Oxidation-Reduction Reactions.Quiz: Heat Capacities and Transformations.
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Quiz: Compounds with Additional Elements.The Arabic numbering system is the most widely accepted today. Many periodic tables include both Roman and Arabic numbers. The modern IUPAC system uses Arabic numbers 1-18, simply numbering the columns of the periodic table from left to right.The CAS system used letters to differentiate main group (A) and transition (B) elements.The older IUPAC system used Roman numerals together with letters to distinguish between the left (A) and right (B) side of the periodic table.Three systems have been used to number families and groups: Recognizing Families on the Periodic TableĬolumns of the periodic table typically mark groups or families. Noble Gases: - Group 18 (VIIIA) - 8 valence electrons.Halogens: - Group 17 (VIIA) - 7 valence electrons.Oxygen Group or Chalcogens: - Group 16 (VIA) - 6 valence electrons.Nitrogen Group or Pnictogens: - Group 15 (VA) - 5 valence electrons.Carbon Group or Tetrels: - Group 14 (IVA) - 4 valence electrons.Boron Group or Earth Metals: Group 13 (IIIA) - 3 valence electrons.Transition Metals: Groups 3-12 - d and f block metals have 2 valence electrons.Alkaline Earth Metals: Group 2 (IIA) - 2 valence electrons.Alkali Metals: Group 1 (IA) - 1 valence electron.Many chemists and chemistry textbooks recognize five main families:Īnother common method of categorization recognizes nine element families: However, there are different ways of categorizing elements into families. Because element properties are largely determined by the behavior of valence electrons, families and groups may be the same. Element groups, on the other hand, are collections of elements categorized according to similar properties. The characteristics of the elements in these families are determined primarily by the number of electrons in the outer energy shell. Elements are classified into families because the three main categories of elements (metals, nonmetals, and semimetals) are very broad. Element families are indicated by numbers located at the top of the periodic table.Īn element family is a set of elements sharing common properties.
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