Compare the number of valence electrons an oxygen atom has with the number of valence electrons a selenium atom has. Are oxygen and selenium in the same period or group?
To compare the number of valence electrons an atom has, you need to identify the element's position and its atomic number on the periodic table. Here's how to find the answers to your questions:
1. Finding the number of valence electrons for an oxygen atom:
- Locate oxygen (O) on the periodic table. It is in Group 16 (also known as Group VI), which is labeled as the Oxygen Group or Chalcogens Group.
- Determine the atomic number of oxygen, which is 8. The atomic number represents the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
- The number of valence electrons for an element in Group 16 is equal to the group number. Therefore, oxygen has 6 valence electrons.
2. Finding the number of valence electrons for a selenium atom:
- Find selenium (Se) on the periodic table. It is in Group 16, just like oxygen.
- Obtain the atomic number of selenium, which is 34.
- Since selenium is also in Group 16, it has 6 valence electrons, just like oxygen.
3. Determining if oxygen and selenium are in the same period or group:
- Periods on the periodic table represent the energy levels (or shells) the electrons occupy. For example, the first energy level (or first period) can hold up to 2 electrons, the second period can hold up to 8 electrons, and so on.
- Groups, on the other hand, represent the columns on the periodic table. Elements within the same group have similar properties and similar valence electron configurations.
- Oxygen and selenium are both in Group 16 (VI), indicating that they share similar valence electron configurations.
- However, they are in different periods. Oxygen is in the second period, occupying the 2s and 2p subshells, while selenium is in the fourth period, occupying the 4s and 4p subshells.
In summary, oxygen and selenium both have 6 valence electrons but are in different periods on the periodic table.