Nickel Valence Electrons
Why nickel has 10
Nickel has 28 electrons, arranged as 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d8 4s2. Counting the 4s electrons plus the 3d electrons gives 10, the usual textbook convention for transition metals. Some courses count only the electrons in the outermost shell, which gives 2 for nickel; check which convention your class uses.
Nickel is a transition metal in group 10. Counting its outer s electrons plus the d electrons beneath them gives 10, the same as the group number.
What that means for bonding
Transition metals can lose different numbers of these electrons, which is why nickel shows several oxidation states (+1, +2, +3, +4). When it forms a cation it loses the 4s electrons first.
Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 16, 2. See the nickel electron configuration and orbital diagram or the full nickel data sheet.
Same group, same count
Nickel valence electrons FAQ
How many valence electrons does nickel have?
Nickel has 10 valence electrons. Its electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁸ 4s²; the count is 2 outer s + 8 d electrons; 2 in the outermost shell. If your course counts only outermost-shell electrons, the answer is 2.
How do you find the valence electrons of nickel?
Nickel is a transition metal in group 10. Counting its outer s electrons plus the d electrons beneath them gives 10, the same as the group number.
How many bonds does nickel form?
Transition metals can lose different numbers of these electrons, which is why nickel shows several oxidation states (+1, +2, +3, +4). When it forms a cation it loses the 4s electrons first.