1. Valence
Electrons:
ELECTRONS
AVAILABLE
FOR
BONDING

2. CA Standards
 Students know how to use the
periodic table to determine the
number of electrons available for
bonding.
 Students know how to draw Lewis
dot structures.

3. Definition
Valence electrons are electrons in
the outmost shell (energy level).
They are the electrons available
for bonding.

4. Group 1 (alkali metals) have 1
valence electron

5. Group 2 (alkaline earth metals)
have 2 valence electrons

6. Group 13 elements have 3
valence electrons

7. Group 14 elements have 4
valence electrons

8. Group 15 elements have 5
valence electrons

9. Group 16 elements have 6
valence electrons

10. Group 17 (halogens) have 7
valence electrons

11. Group 18 (Noble gases) have 8
valence electrons, except
helium, which has only 2

12. Transition metals (“d” block)
have 1 or 2 valence electrons

13. Lanthanides and actinides
(“f” block) have 1 or 2 valence
electrons

14. Dot Notations
An atom’s valence electrons can be represented
by Lewis dot notations.
1 valence e- 2 valence e- 3 valence e- 4 valence e-
X X X X
5 valence e- 6 valence e- 7 valence e- 8 valence e-
X X X X

15. Dot Notations – Period 2
Lewis dot notations for the valence electrons of
the elements of Period 2.
lithium beryllium boron carbon
Li Be B C
nitrogen oxygen fluorine neon
N O F Ne