In a single helium atom, there are 2 protons, 2 electrons, and 2 neutrons. Helium is the second element in the periodic table. Because s subshells can hold up to two electrons, both electrons fit into the 1s subshell; thus, the electron configuration for helium atoms is 1s2.
| Name of element | Helium |
| Element category | noble gas |
| Atomic number | 2 |
| The electron configuration of helium | 1s2 |
| Molar mass | 4.002602 g·mol−1 |
Table of Contents
What is helium?
Helium (He) is a chemical element and inert gas in Periodic Group 18 (noble gases). Helium, the second lightest element (only hydrogen is lighter), is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless gas that solidifies at 268.9 °C (452 °F). Helium has lower boiling and freezing points than any other known substance. Helium is the only element that cannot be solidified by sufficient cooling at normal atmospheric pressure; it requires a pressure of 25 atmospheres at a temperature of 1 K (272 °C or 458 °F) to be applied to convert it to its solid state.
Is Helium a molecule?
Helium is not a molecule, but rather a collection of atoms held together by Van Der Waals interatomic forces; in fact, only London forces hold helium together. A molecule is defined as a group of two or more atoms bound to one another. In addition, Vander Der Waal’s forces are physical bonds, not chemical bonds. Helium is classified as a noble gas due to its complete outer shell.
Physicists, on the other hand, frequently use the term “molecule” to refer to the smallest particle of gas, regardless of how many atoms or what type of bonds that particle contains. In that sense, a helium atom is described as a molecule as well.
Summary
- The answer to the question “how many electrons does helium have? is two electrons.
- Helium is the second element of the periodic table with an electronic configuration of 1s2.
- It is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless gas that solidifies at 268.9 °C (452 °F).
- Helium is not a molecule as atoms are bonded together with Vander Waal forces.
Related Topics
Valence Electrons in Nitrogen
Sulfur Electron Configuration
Neon Element| Properties & Uses
NH3 Lewis Structure & Molecular Geometry
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many electrons does iron have?
Iron contains eight electrons in its valence shell. Because iron is a transition metal, electrons in its d subshells can be used as valence electrons. In a transition metal, valence electrons are electrons that exist outside of a noble-gas core. Iron has the electrical configuration 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d6.
2. How many electrons does oxygen have?
A single oxygen atom has eight protons, eight electrons, and eight neutrons.
Oxygen is a stable isotope of oxygen with a nucleus of 8 neutrons and 8 protons. Its mass is 15.99491461956 u. Check the full topic “How many electrons does oxygen have?”.
3. How many valence electrons does sodium have?
Sodium, like all other alkali metals in group 1, has a single valence electron. Valence electrons are the outermost electrons from the nucleus and are involved in bonding. Check details at “Sodium valence electrons”.
4. What is the valence of magnesium?
Magnesium has an atomic number of 12. It has an electrical configuration of 2,8,2. As a result, it contains two valence electrons.
5. How many valence electrons does chlorine have?
Chlorine has an atomic number of 17. It has seven valence electrons.
Check the related article “Is chlorine a metal?”.
6. Molar mass of methanol?
The molar mass of methanol is 32.04 g/mol. The methanol formula is CH3OH and it is also known as methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, or wood spirit.
7. Is liquid nitrogen dry ice?
The difference between dry ice and liquid nitrogen is that dry ice is a solid form of carbon dioxide, whereas liquid nitrogen is elemental nitrogen in liquid form.
Check out the full article “How cold is liquid nitrogen?”.
8. What is calcium’s electronic configuration?
Calcium electron configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2
9. How many electrons does Helium have?
A single Helium atom has two protons, two electrons, and two neutrons. The second element in the periodic table is helium. Because s subshells may store up to two electrons, both electrons fit into the 1s subshell, resulting in the electron configuration for helium atoms being 1s2.
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