valence electron

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. an electron of an atom, located in the outermost shell valence shell of the atom, that can be transferred to or shared with another atom.

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valence electron Scientific  

1. An electron in one of the outer shells of an atom that can participate in forming chemical bonds with other atoms.

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Usage

What are valence electrons? A valence electron is a negatively charged particle, located in the outermost shell of an atom, that can be transferred to or shared with another atom.Valence (or valency) is an atom or group of atoms’ ability to chemically unite with other atoms or groups. Electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles surrounding the nucleus of an atom in shells. Valence electrons, then, are electrons in the outermost shell of the atom that determine an atom’s or group’s ability to bond with others.In chemistry, a group refers to two or more atoms that are specifically arranged. Groups are also called radicals. Free radicals are unstable, highly reactive atoms or molecules that have unpaired valence electrons.

Etymology

Origin of valence electron

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

They identified two high-entropy carbides that exhibited exceptional resistance to cracking under load or stress, thanks to their high valence electron concentrations.

From Science Daily

Alkali atoms have a single valence electron that interacts strongly with laser light at visible or near-infrared wavelengths.

From Nature

“This is the first clear case of an alkali metal not only losing its single easily ionized valence electron in bonding, but also ‘breaking into the core’ in its bonding with several fluorines.”

From Scientific American

Strong electron correlations, which cause each valence electron to explicitly affect the response of all other valence electrons in the system, are believed to underlie exotic phenomena such as high-temperature superconductivity.

From Science Magazine

By using metals with a higher valence electron count, the researchers successfully improved the material's resistance to cracking when subjected to mechanical load and stress.

From Science Daily