Q
QuestionChemistry

"Is magnesium a metal or a nonmetal? How many valence electrons does a magnesium atom have?"
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Answer

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Step 1
: Identify the element and its properties

Magnesium is the chemical element with the atomic number 12, and its symbol is Mg. It belongs to Group 2 (IIA) in the periodic table, which means it is an alkaline earth metal. This group of elements is known for having two valence electrons.

Step 2
: Determine the number of valence electrons

To find the number of valence electrons, we need to look at the atomic structure of magnesium. Magnesium has 12 electrons arranged in three energy levels or shells. The first shell has 2 electrons, the second shell has 8 electrons, and the third shell has 2 valence electrons.

Final Answer

- Magnesium is a metal. - A magnesium atom has 2 valence electrons.