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Aluminum, classified as a post-transition metal, possesses 3 valence electrons. The valence electrons of aluminum can be found either directly from its location on the periodic table, which is group 13, or by using its electron configuration as another method.
Methods
Using periodic table
Get the periodic table having the chemical elements marked on it as mentioned above.
Now mark the location of aluminum on the periodic table.
Next, mark the group number of aluminum on the periodic table.
The valence electrons of each main-group element can be determined by the column in which it is located.
(i.e., all group 1 elements have 1 valence electron, all group 2 elements have 2 valence electrons, skip the transition metals… then, all group 13 elements have 3 valence electrons, all group 14 elements have 4 valence electrons, and so on up to group 18 elements)
Since aluminum is in group 13, it has 3 valence electrons.
Using electron configuration
- First, write electron configuration of aluminum
The electron configuration of aluminum is [Ne] 3s2 3p1.
- Second, find highest energy level in electron configuration
In the above electron configuration, the highest energy level (3) is marked with green color.
- Finally, count electrons of that energy level
The 3rd energy level contains 3s and 3p subshells. There are 2 electrons in the 3s subshell and 1 electron in the 3p subshell. So aluminum has a total of 2 + 1 = 3 valence electrons.
Next: Silicon valence electrons
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External links
- https://homework.study.com/explanation/how-many-valence-electrons-does-aluminum-have.html
- https://www.quora.com/How-many-valence-electrons-are-in-aluminium
- https://socratic.org/questions/what-is-the-number-of-valence-electrons-in-aluminum
- https://valenceelectrons.com/valence-electrons-of-aluminum/
- https://www.turito.com/ask-a-doubt/Chemistry-how-many-valence-electrons-does-aluminum-have-4-valence-electron-3-valence-electron-2-valence-electron-q43455d24
- https://www.bartleby.com/questions-and-answers/aluminum-has-three-valence-electrons-and-oxygen-has-six-valence-electrons.-what-is-the-formula-for-a/79f9c72b-32a1-4255-a91e-05479105f9c8
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