Valency Questions

Valency is the combining capacity of an element. The valency of an atom is equivalent to the number of valence electrons if the number of valence electrons is four or less than four. Otherwise, the valency of an element is equivalent to eight minus the number of electrons in the outer shell.

Definition: Valency is the combining capacity of an element. It tells about the number of electrons an atom will lose or gain to stabilise itself.

Valency Chemistry Questions with Solutions

Q1. The combining capacity of an element is known as its

(a ) Valency

(b ) Oxidation Number

(c ) Valence Electron

(d ) None of the above

Answer: (a), The combining capacity of an element is known as its valency.

Q2. Which of the following has wholly filled the outermost shell?

(a ) Noble Gases

(b ) Metals

(c ) Nonmetals

(d ) None of the above

Answer: (a) Nobel gases have wholly filled the outermost shell.

Q3. Which block do elements not show variable valency?

(a ) s block elements

(b ) p block elements

(c ) d block elements

(d ) f block elements

Answer: (a), s block elements not show variable valency.

Q4. Valency generally expresses

(a ) Total electrons in an atom

(b ) Atomicity of an element

(c ) Oxidation Number of an element

(d ) Combining capacity of an element

Answer: (d), Valency generally expresses the combining capacity of an element.

Q5. The electrovalency of an element equals the number of electrons lost or gained by an atom during the formation of

(a ) Ionic Bond

(b ) Covalent Bond

(c ) Hydrogen Bond

(d ) None of the above

Answer: (a), The electrovalency of an element equals the number of electrons lost or gained by an atom during the formation of an ionic bond.

Q6. What is valency? What is the valency of ferrous and ferric?

Answer: Valency is the combining capacity of an element. It tells about the number of electrons an atom will lose or gain to stabilise itself.

The valency of ferrous is 2, while ferric is 3.

Q7. How can you find the valency of an element?

Answer: The valency of an atom is equivalent to the number of valence electrons if the number of valence electrons is four or less than four. Otherwise, the valency of an element is equivalent to eight minus the number of electrons in the outer shell. If the number of valence electrons is known, we can effortlessly calculate the valency of an element.

Q8. What is covalency?

Answer: Covalency is the maximum number of covalent bonds an atom forms using empty orbitals. It depends on the number of valence electrons of an element.

Q9. What is the valency of chlorine?

Answer: If the valence electrons are less than or equal to 4, then the valency of an element is equal to the number of electrons in the outermost shell. In contrast, if the valence electrons are more than 4, the valency is determined by subtracting the valence electrons from 8.

The electronic configuration of chlorine is 2,8,7.

Thus, it has seven valence electrons. So its valency would be equal to 8 – the number of valence electrons.

I.e. Valency = 8 – Number of valence electrons

Valency = 8 – 7

Valency = 1.

Hence, the valency of chlorine is equivalent to one.

Q10. What is the valency of sulphur?

Answer: If the valence electrons are less than or equal to 4, then the valency of an element is equal to the number of electrons in the outermost shell. In contrast, if the valence electrons are more than 4, the valency is determined by subtracting the valence electrons from 8.

The electronic configuration of magnesium is 2,8,2.

Thus, it has two valence electrons. So its valency would be equal to the number of valence electrons.

I.e. Valency = Number of valence electrons

Valency = 2.

Hence, the valency of magnesium is equivalent to two.

Q11. What is the valency of sulphur?

Answer: If the valence electrons are less than or equal to 4, then the valency of an element is equal to the number of electrons in the outermost shell. In contrast, if the valence electrons are more than 4, the valency is determined by subtracting the valence electrons from 8.

The electronic configuration of sulphur is 2,8,6.

Thus, it has six valence electrons. So its valency would be equal to 8 – the number of valence electrons.

I.e. Valency = 8 – Number of valence electrons

Valency = 8 – 6

Valency = 2.

Hence, the valency of sulphur is equivalent to two.

Q12. What is the valency of phosphorous?

Answer: If the valence electrons are less than or equal to 4, then the valency of an element is equal to the number of electrons in the outermost shell. In contrast, if the valence electrons are more than 4, the valency is determined by subtracting the valence electrons from 8.

The electronic configuration of phosphorous is 2,8,5.

Thus, it has five valence electrons. So its valency would be equal to 8 – the number of valence electrons.

I.e. Valency = 8 – Number of valence electrons

Valency = 8 – 5

Valency = 3.

Hence, the valency of phosphorous is equivalent to three.

Q13. Match the following.

Column A

Column B

Iron

Monovalent

Valency

Proton

Neutral Particle

Neutron

Hydrogen

Combining capacity of an element

Positively charged particle

Fe

Answer:

Column A

Column B

Iron

Fe

Valency

Combining capacity of an element

Neutral Particle

Neutron

Hydrogen

Monovalent

Positively charged particle

Proton

Q14. Differentiate between valency and covalency.

Answer:

S. No.

Valency

Covlency

1.

Valency is the number of electrons an atom will lose or gain to stabilise itself.

Covalency is the maximum number of covalent bonds an atom forms using empty orbitals.

2.

Valency may or may not equal the number of valence electrons.

Covalency depends on the number of valence electrons of an element.

3.

It tells about the number of electrons required to fill the empty orbitals.

It depends on the number of empty orbitals present in the atom.

4.

It is for the elements forming an ionic or covalent bond.

It is for the elements forming a covalent bond.

Q15. Differentiate between valency and the valence electrons.

Answer:

S. No.

Valency

Valence Electron

1.

Valency is the combining capacity of an element.

Valence electrons are the electrons that take part in chemical bond formation.

2.

It explains the formation of bonds between atoms.

It explains the elemental character of an atom.

Practise Questions on Valency

Q1. Elements with valency 1 are

(a ) Metals

(b ) Non-metals

(c ) Metalloids

(d ) Either (a) or (b)

(e ) Either (a) or (c )

Q2. Give two examples of elements with valency 2.

Q3. What is the valency of fluorine?

Q4. What is the valency of X in XH3?

Q5. What is the valency of phosphorus in phosphorus pentoxide?

Click the PDF to check the answers for Practice Questions.
Download PDF

Recommended Videos

Electronic Configuration Explained – How to do Electronic Configuration

Comments

Leave a Comment

Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published.

*

*