What will be the valency of an atom if its outermost shell contains four electrons?

Options

A. 8
B. 4
C. 2
D. 6

Explanation

To determine the valency of an atom with four electrons in its outermost shell, follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Number of Valence Electrons**:
The problem states that the atom has 4 electrons in its outermost shell (valence shell).

2. **Understand the Concept of Valency**:
Valency is the measure of an atom's ability to bond with other atoms. It is determined by the number of electrons an atom needs to gain, lose, or share to achieve a full outer shell, typically consisting of 8 electrons (known as the octet rule).

3. **Apply the Octet Rule**:
For atoms with 4 valence electrons, we can find the valency using the formula:
\[ \text{Valency} = 8 - \text{Number of Valence Electrons} \]

4. **Calculate the Valency**:
Substitute the number of valence electrons into the formula:
\[ \text{Valency} = 8 - 4 = 4 \]

5. **Conclusion**:
The valency of the atom is 4. This means the atom can either lose 4 electrons or gain 4 electrons to achieve a stable configuration.

### Final Answer:
The valency of the atom is 4.

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