In some inner transition metals, the electrons of incomplete d-orbitals are also considered as valence electrons. Hence, for inner transition elements, the electrons of both f-subshells as well as s-subshell behave like valence electrons. The inner transition elements have incomplete f- subshells and they are very close to the outer s-subshell. (See the above or below periodic table to see the valence electrons of transition metals).Īlso the two bottom rows at the bottom of the periodic table are the inner transition elements (or f-block elements) also have the similar case. Hence, the transition elements (i.e d-block elements from group 3 to 12) can have more valence electrons ranging from 3 to 12. So, the electrons of both d-subshell and s-subshell behave like valence electrons. It is more difficult to find the valence electrons of transition elements as they have incompletely filled d-subshell and this d-subshell is very close to the outer s-subshell. What about valence electrons of transition and inner transition elements?įor the transition elements and inner transition elements, the case is more complicated. Well, this suits perfectly for the main group elements (i.e group 1, 2 and group 13 to 18), but what about the transition and inner transition elements? Hence, magnesium has 2 valence electrons. Here, you can see that the highest principal quantum number is 3, and the total electrons in this principal quantum number is 2. The electron configuration of magnesium is 1s 2 2s 2 2p 6 3s 2.

Valence electrons can also be determined as the electrons present in the shell with highest principal quantum number (n). The magnesium element has 2 electrons in outermost orbit.

Periodic table trends valence electrons