Meaning & use
valence electron
An electron in the outermost shell of an atom that can participate in forming chemical bonds.
See it in a sentence
Carbon has four valence electrons, which explains its ability to form many types of bonds.
The reactivity of an element depends heavily on the number of valence electrons it has.
A note on using this word
A core concept in chemistry for predicting how atoms bond and react with one another.
Words with a similar meaning
This term is best learned through its definition and examples.
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “valence electron”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.