Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The valence shell is the outermost shell of an atom that contains electrons which can participate in chemical bonding. It determines how an atom interacts with other atoms to form molecules.
Related terms
Electron: A subatomic particle with a negative charge that orbits the nucleus of an atom.
Chemical Bond: The attractive force that holds atoms together in compounds, often involving interactions between valence electrons.
Molecule: A group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound that can take part in a chemical reaction