what is valency of oxygen?

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Detailed Solution

Valency is the combining capacity of an element — that is, how many atoms of hydrogen (or any other monovalent element) it can combine with or replace to form a compound.

Oxygen's Atomic Details

Atomic Number: 8
Electronic Configuration: 2, 6
This means oxygen has 6 electrons in its outermost shell (valence shell).

Valency of Oxygen

To achieve a stable electronic configuration (like that of noble gases), oxygen needs 2 more electrons to complete its octet (8 electrons in the outer shell).

Therefore, valency of oxygen = 2

→ It tends to gain 2 electrons in chemical reactions.

Examples of Oxygen’s Valency in Compounds

Compound	Formula	Explanation
Water	H₂O	Oxygen forms 2 bonds with 2 hydrogen atoms
Carbon Dioxide	CO₂	Double bonds with two oxygen atoms, each sharing 2 electrons
Oxygen ion	O²⁻	Gains 2 electrons to become stable

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