Question

Give examples of trivalent and tetravalent element.

Answer 1

Trivalent : A trivalent element has three electrons in its valence shell.

• $\mathrm{Aluminium}\left(\mathrm{Al}\right)\mathrm{is}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{metal}\mathrm{element}.\mathrm{The}\mathrm{atomic}\mathrm{number}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{Al}\mathrm{is}13.$
• $\mathrm{Aluminium}\mathrm{has}\mathrm{electronic}\mathrm{configuration}\mathrm{K}\left(2\right),\mathrm{L}\left(8\right),\mathrm{M}\left(3\right)$
• $\mathrm{It}\mathrm{exhibits}\mathrm{the}\mathrm{valency}\mathrm{of}+3\mathrm{hence}\mathrm{called}\mathrm{trivalent}.$

Tetravalent : A tetravalent element has four electrons in its valence shell.

• $\mathrm{Carbon}\left(\mathrm{C}\right)\mathrm{is}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{non}\mathrm{metal}.\mathrm{the}\mathrm{atomic}\mathrm{number}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{carbon}\mathrm{is}4$
• $\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{has}\mathrm{electronic}\mathrm{configuration}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{K}\left(2\right),\mathrm{L}\left(4\right).$
• Here it can either accept or share four electrons hence tetravalent.