How many valence electrons does oxygen have?

Answer:

Oxygen has six valence electrons.

Explanation:

To find out the number of valence electrons in a oxygen atom,we need to look at the periodic table.

The position of oxygen in the periodic table  is in group 6A.For representative elements,valence electrons are equal to the group number.So,oxygen atom has six valence electrons in its valence shell.

Oxygen is an element of group 16.Now just consider the unit place digit from group number.You are getting 6 which is equal to the number of valence electrons in oxygen.

Here is the another way to find out the valence electrons of oxygen.

The atomic number of oxygen is 8.So, it has eight electrons totally.

Now do the electronic configuration of oxygen.

O(8) =1s2 2s2 2p4

The valence shell is the outermost shell and the electrons that are present in valence shell is called valence electrons.

The valence shell or energy level can be identified by the highest value of principal quantum number ,n.Here the highest value of n is 2.So,the valence shell is the 2nd shell.

In 2nd shell we get 6 valence electrons.So each oxygen has 6 valence electrons.

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