Gallium valence electrons

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Gallium valence electrons
Gallium valence electrons | Image: Learnool

Gallium has 3 valence electrons.

Methods

We can write the valence electrons of gallium using two different methods:

#1 Using periodic table
#2 Using electron configuration

Let’s break down each method in detail.

Using periodic table

Periodic table | Image: Learnool

Get the periodic table having the chemical elements marked on it as mentioned above.

Now mark the location of gallium on the periodic table.

Gallium location marked on periodic table | Image: Learnool

Next, mark the group number of gallium on the periodic table.

Gallium group number marked on periodic table | Image: Learnool

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 gallium is in group 13, it has 3 valence electrons.

Using electron configuration

  • First, write electron configuration of gallium

The electron configuration of gallium is [Ar] 4s2 3d10 4p1.

  • Second, find highest energy level in electron configuration
Green colored number represent highest energy level | Image: Learnool

In the above electron configuration, the highest energy level (4) is marked with green color.

  • Finally, count electrons of that energy level
Number circled with green color represent electrons | Image: Learnool

The 4th energy level contains 4s and 4p subshells. There are 2 electrons in the 4s subshell and 1 electron in the 4p subshell. So gallium has a total of 2 + 1 = 3 valence electrons.

Next: Germanium valence electrons

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Learnool.com was founded by Deep Rana, who is a mechanical engineer by profession and a blogger by passion. He has a good conceptual knowledge on different educational topics and he provides the same on this website. He loves to learn something new everyday and believes that the best utilization of free time is developing a new skill.

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