Valence (Valency)

The valence of many elements is determined from their ability to combine with
hydrogen or to replace it in compounds.
E.g 1. One oxygen atom combines with two hydrogen atoms to form water,
H2O, and the valence of oxygen is thus determined to be 2. HOH
E.g. 2. Similarly, chlorine combines with a single atom of hydrogen to form
hydrogen chloride, HCl, and chlorine's valence thus is 1. H  Cl
E.g. 3. Zinc does not combine with hydrogen but does replace it in
compounds; in a typical replacement reaction, one zinc atom replaces two hydrogen
atoms, as in the equation Zn + H2SO4 → ZnSO4 + H2, so that Zn has a valence of 2.
E.g. 4. In the compound O = C = O; O-atom bonds with a double bond to the
adjacent carbon atom thus the valency of O is 2 but C-atom forms four covalent
bonds to two O-atoms hence C-atom has a valency of four.
What about H  C ≡ N?
Valence (valency or valency number) is the number of chemical bonds which an
atom forms with near-by atoms. The concept was developed in the middle of the
nineteenth century.
The number of bonds formed by a given element was originally thought to be a fixed
chemical property and in fact, in many cases, this is a good approximation. For
example, in virtually all of their compounds, carbon forms four bonds, oxygen two
and hydrogen one. However it soon became apparent that, for many elements, the
valence could vary between different compounds. One of the first examples to be
identified was phosphorus, which sometimes behaves as if it has a valence of three
and sometimes as if it has a valence of five.
Figuratively speaking, valency is the number of “hands” with which an atom clings to
other atoms. Naturally, atoms have no “hands”; their role is played by the so-called
valence electrons.
You could say otherwise: valency is the ability of an atom of a given element to
attach a certain number of other atoms.
The following principles must be clearly understood:
There are elements with a constant valency (there are relatively few of them)
and elements with a variable valency (most of which). E.g. iron (II, III); Cu(I, II);
P((III, V); N((I, II, III, IV, V)…etc.
The values of the higher and lower valences of a chemical element can be
determined using the Periodic table. The highest valency of the element coincides
with the number of the group in which it is located, and the lowest represents the
difference between the number 8 and the group number. For example, bromine is
located in the VIIB group, so its highest valency is VII, and the lowest is I.
There are elements with the so-called constant valency (metals of groups IA and IIA,
aluminium, hydrogen, fluorine, oxygen), which in their compounds exhibit a single
oxidation state, which most often coincides with the group number of the Periodic
Table DI Mendeleev, where they are located).
Here are some important valences of elements and groups:
MONOVALENT: alkali metals, placed in group 1 (IA) in pte., H, Ag, F, halogen elements
(gr.17 or VIIB) in binary compounds (Cl, Br..) and some polyatomic gr.: OH, NO3, NO2
DIVALENT: alkaline-earth metals, placed in group 2 (IIA) in pte., O, Zn, elements in group
16 or VIB in binary compounds (S, Se) and some polyatomic groups: CO32, SO32, SO42.
TRIVALENT: elements in group 13 (IIIB) in pte., elements located in group 15 (VB) in
binary compounds (N, P) and some polyatomic groups like: PO33, AsO33, PO43, AsO43.
The maximum valency an element can have is VII (heptavalent)!
Elements have their valencies in COMPOUNDS only not when they are alone. The
valency of elements in simple substances is 0, like in O2, P4, S8…etc.

Determination of the valency of elements in a binary compound by its

formula.
I II III I IV II II II I III III I
H2S NH3 CO2 MgS K3N FeCl3
Determination of the valency of elements in a ternary compound by its
formula. I I
I VI II I V II II IV II II II I III VII II
H2SO4 HNO3 K2CO3 Mg(OH)2 Fe(ClO4)3
(24-2=6) (23-1=5) (23-2=4) (342-3=21/3=7)

Determination of the formula of a compound knowing the valences of the

elements:
VI II \ LCM is 6 II II \ LCM is 2 II III \ LCM is 6
XY3 Mg2+ and SO42  MgSO4 Ca2+ and PO43  Ca3(PO4)2