In chemistry, the electrons that are primarily responsible for most chemical bonding are called valence electrons. These are the electrons located in the outermost shell of an atom and have the highest energy level. While all electrons play a role in an atom’s overall behavior, it is the valence electrons that determine how an atom interacts with other atoms.
Valence electrons are crucial because they are involved in the formation of chemical bonds. Atoms tend to bond with one another to achieve a more stable electron configuration, often resembling that of the nearest noble gas. This can happen through various types of chemical bonds: covalent bonds, ionic bonds, or metallic bonds.
For example, in covalent bonding, atoms share their valence electrons to fill their outer electron shells. In ionic bonding, one atom transfers its valence electrons to another, resulting in oppositely charged ions that attract each other. Each of these processes relies on the behavior of the valence electrons, making them the key players in chemical bonding.