Q
QuestionChemistry

How many valence electrons does lithium (Li) have available for bonding? A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4
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Answer

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Step 1
: Understand the question

The question asks for the number of valence electrons in a lithium atom that are available for bonding. Valence electrons are the outermost electrons in an atom and are involved in the formation of chemical bonds.

Step 2
: Recall the periodic table and valence electron configuration for lithium

Lithium (Li) is located in the first period of the periodic table, and its atomic number is 3. This means that a lithium atom has three electrons, with the electron configuration [He] 2s¹. Here, [He] represents the noble gas helium's electron configuration, which is 1s², and 2s¹ indicates that lithium has one electron in its 2s orbital.

Final Answer

Lithium has one valence electron available for bonding.