Question

What is the valency of the element?

Answer 1

Valency:

• An element’s combining capacity is known as its valency.
• The valency of the element represents the number of bonds that an atom can form as part of a compound.

How to find the valency of an element:

• The valency of an element depends on the electrons present in the outermost shell, that is, valence electrons.
• An element always tries to attain stability by gaining or losing electrons to obtain the octet (8 electrons in the outermost shell). So the number of valence electrons can vary from 1 to 8.
• If the valence electrons of the element vary from 1 to 4. Then, the valence of electrons itself is their valency.
• If the valence electrons are more than 4, subtract the number of valence electrons from the 8 (octet).

Example:

• Sodium (Na) has a total of 11 electrons since its atomic number is 11.
• Electronic configuration of Na is $1s^{2}2s^{2}2p^{6}3s^1$.
• It will one electron to attain stable electronic configuration.
• Hence, the valency of sodium is $1$.