Valency

Valency

Valency is the combining capacity of an atom. It determines how many electrons an atom can lose, gain, or share to achieve a stable electronic configuration (usually noble gas configuration).

Calculation of Valency Using Electronic Configuration

• For elements with 1 to 4 valence electrons → Valency = Number of valence electrons

• For elements with 5 to 8 valence electrons → Valency = 8 – Number of valence electrons

Examples of Valency Calculation

Diagram: Valency Determination for Common Elements (Na, Cl, O, Mg, etc.)

(A visual diagram showing electron distribution in shells and how elements gain/lose/share electrons to achieve a stable configuration.)

Valency helps in understanding chemical bonding, whether an element will form ionic or covalent bonds in compounds.