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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Valency and Charge?

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Valency and charge are two terms related to the reactivity of chemical elements, but they have distinct meanings:

  • Valency refers to the combining power of an element, particularly as measured by the number of hydrogen atoms it can displace or combine with. It is a measure of the reactivity of a chemical element and indicates the ability of an atom to form chemical bonds with other atoms. Valency is related to the number of electrons in the outermost shell of an atom.
  • Charge is the number of electrons gained or removed by a chemical element, resulting in a positively or negatively charged species. The charge of an atom is the number of protons minus the number of electrons in an atom. Charge indicates the actual electrical state of an atom or molecule, and it can be positive, negative, or neutral.

In summary, the key difference between valency and charge is that valency indicates the ability of a chemical element to combine with another, while charge indicates the number of electrons gained or removed by a chemical element. Valency is related to the connectivity of atoms and the formation of chemical bonds, whereas charge refers to the actual electrical state of an atom or molecule.

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  • What is the Difference Between Valency and Charge?
  • Comparative Table: Valency vs Charge

    • Comparative Table: Valency vs Charge

    Here is a table highlighting the differences between valency and charge:

    Property Valency Charge
    Definition Valency is the number of electrons that need to be added or removed from the outermost shell of an atom to complete its octet or satisfy the octet rule. Charge is the number of electrons gained or removed by a chemical element.
    Purpose Valency indicates the ability of a chemical element to combine with another chemical element. Charge indicates the electrical property of an atom or ion, making it positive, negative, or neutral.
    Significance Valency is important for understanding the bonding capacity of elements. Charge is important for understanding the reactivity and stability of ions.
    Examples - Carbon (C) has a valency of 4.
    - Nitrogen (N) has a valency of 3.
    - Oxygen (O) has a valency of 2.
    - Hydrogen (H) has a valency of 1.
    - Halogens have a valency of 1.    		 For charged ions, the charge corresponds to the number of electrons gained or lost compared to the neutral atom. For example, a sodium ion (Na+) has a charge of +1, as it has lost one electron, making it positively charged.

    In summary, valency is a measure of the reactivity of a chemical element and its bonding capacity, while charge is an indication of the electrical property of an atom or ion due to the gain or loss of electrons.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.