What are the difference between Valence and Valence Electron.

Hi guys in chemistry we see two word "Valence" and "Valence Electron". You might think that these two terms are the same, but no these two terms are totally different. Both are periodic properties of element. First of all let’s see the definition of these terms.

Valence:Valence is the number of combining power of an atom. While forming a chemical bond an atom needs to give or take or share electron. Valence means the number of electron that an atom can give or take or share. For example let's see the electron configuration of Chlorine(Cl) . Cl have 17 electron.

Cl(17)--> 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s²3p⁵.

As we know all the element of periodic table want to have the same electron configuration that the nearby noble gas have. So Cl will receive an electron in order to have the same electron configuration that the nearby noble gas Argon have. Here the electron that Cl will receive is the Valence of Cl which is 1. So Cl’s Valence is -1. We add a negative sign(“-“) because by receiving the electron Cl will become an negative ion.

Valence Electron:Valence Electron is the electron of the outer orbit of an atom. It can participate in forming a chemical bond. For example let's see the electron configuration of Aluminum(Al). Aluminum has 13 electron.

Al(13)--> 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p¹.

Here the outer orbit of Al is 3 that has 3 electron. These 3 electron are the valence electron of Al. Al can use them to form chemical bond.

So you can see that they are totally different. Valence is the combining power of an atom where Valence Electron is the electron of the outer orbit of an atom. Valence is power but Valence electron is the number of electron. Valence means the number of electron that an atom can receive but Valence Electron is the number of electron that an atom can give and share.

That's why "Valence" and "Valence Electron" are different.

What are the difference between Valence and Valence Electron.