What is the valency of selenium in hydrogen selenide?
Consider what selenium's group is in the periodic table. There is oxygen and sulfur, right? Selenium will the same as those. The all have the same basic formula with hydrogen. What's that very common substance that contains hydrogen and oxygen?
To determine the valency of selenium in hydrogen selenide (H2Se), we need to consider its group in the periodic table. Selenium is located in group 16, also known as the oxygen group or chalcogens. In this group, oxygen and sulfur also belong.
The valency of an element is determined by the number of valence electrons it can gain, lose, or share to complete its octet (eight electrons in its outermost energy level). In group 16, the valency is often -2 since elements in this group typically gain two electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration.
Using this information, we can determine that the valency of selenium in hydrogen selenide (H2Se) is -2. This means that selenium gains two electrons from hydrogen to complete its octet.