Asked by Stacey Whitlatch on Jun 10, 2024

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Oxygen has an atomic number of 8 and an atomic mass of 16. How many valence electrons does it have?

A) 2
B) 4
C) 6
D) 8
E) 16

Valence Electrons

Electrons in the outer shell of an atom that determine the atom's chemical properties and its ability to form bonds with other atoms.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the chemical properties of an element and its place in the periodic table.

Atomic Mass

The mass of an atom, typically expressed in atomic mass units (amu), representing the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

  • Acquire knowledge of the foundational aspects of inorganic chemistry, concentrating on elements like oxygen and their bonding characteristics.
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CP
Christina PsellasJun 11, 2024
Final Answer :
C
Explanation :
Oxygen has 6 valence electrons because its electron configuration ends in 2s^2 2p^4, with the last shell (2nd shell) having 6 electrons.