Question icon
11 grade chemistry others

How many valence electrons does helium have?

Profile image of Aniket Singh
1 Year agoGrade
Answers icon

1 Answer

Profile image of Askiitians Tutor Team
1 Year ago

Helium (He) has **2 valence electrons**. Here's why:

1. **Atomic Number of Helium**: Helium has an atomic number of 2, meaning it has 2 protons in its nucleus and 2 electrons surrounding the nucleus.

2. **Electron Configuration**: The electron configuration of helium is \( 1s^2 \). This means both of its electrons occupy the 1s orbital, which is the lowest energy level and the only orbital in the first shell.

3. **Valence Electrons**: Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom. Since helium has only one shell (the first shell, 1s), its 2 electrons are in the outermost shell, making both of them valence electrons.

So, **helium has 2 valence electrons**.