Question

If the outer most shell of an atom has four to seven electrons, it is generally ________.

Answer 1

• Non-metals are the group 14, 15, 16, and 17 elements which will have four to seven electrons in the valence shell. Thus accepting extra electrons they can get a stable electronic configuration. It is easy to accept electrons than lose these many electrons.
• Example: fluorine has 9 electrons.Electronic configuration:2,7.It is just one electron less than the octet configuration. Thus fluorine accepts one more electron and completes the octet.
• Therefore, if the outermost shell of an atom has four to seven electrons, it is generally non-metals.