🌟Valence electron vs Core electron⚫
Electrons in an atom split into two roles. The outermost ones do the chemistry while the inner ones stay locked away.
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🌟Valence electron
- ✓Located in the outermost shell
- ✓Involved in chemical bonding
- ✓Determines an element's reactivity
- ✓Shown in Lewis dot diagrams
- ✓Lost, gained or shared in reactions
⚫Core electron
- ✓Located in the inner, filled shells
- ✓Not involved in bonding
- ✓Tightly held by the nucleus
- ✓Shields valence electrons from full nuclear charge
- ✓Generally unchanged in reactions
Verdict
Valence electrons live in the outer shell and govern bonding and reactivity; core electrons stay buried inside, shielding the outer ones but not joining reactions.
Frequently asked
Which electrons take part in bonding?+
Valence electrons in the outermost shell are the ones involved in chemical bonding.
What do core electrons do?+
They shield valence electrons from the full pull of the nucleus but do not bond.
Where are valence electrons shown?+
In Lewis dot diagrams, which display only the outer-shell electrons.
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