Phosphorus valence electrons

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Phosphorus valence electrons
Phosphorus valence electrons | Image: Learnool

Phosphorus has 5 valence electrons.

Methods

We can write the valence electrons of phosphorus 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 phosphorus on the periodic table.

Phosphorus location marked on periodic table | Image: Learnool

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

Phosphorus 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 phosphorus is in group 15, it has 5 valence electrons.

Using electron configuration

  • First, write electron configuration of phosphorus

The electron configuration of phosphorus is [Ne] 3s2 3p3.

  • 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 (3) is marked with green color.

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

The 3rd energy level contains 3s and 3p subshells. There are 2 electrons in the 3s subshell and 3 electrons in the 3p subshell. So phosphorus has a total of 2 + 3 = 5 valence electrons.

Next: Sulfur valence electrons

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Deep

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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