Video Transcript
What is the valence of lithium, an element in group one of the periodic table?
The question asks about the valence of lithium. The valence of an element is the number of electrons an atom gains, loses, or shares when forming a bond during a chemical reaction. For example, if an atom has the tendency to lose, gain or share one electron, it has a valence of one.
The question asks about the valence of lithium. The question tells us that lithium is in group one of the periodic table. Therefore, it has one outer-shell electron. Lithium tends to lose its one outer-shell electron to gain a full outer shell of electrons. This is common for group one elements. As lithium typically loses one electron, it has a valence of one.
