Atoms and MoleculesProperties of Atoms and Electrons in Atoms |
What is the valence shell of electrons? |
Electrons fill up orbitals in “shells.” The innermost shell consists of just one s-type orbital and can hold just two electrons. The next shell consists of one s-type and three p-type orbitals, and can hold eight electrons. Higher shells consist of more and more orbitals and can thus hold more and more electrons. The valence shell of electrons is the highest occupied, or partially occupied, set of orbitals.