What is the valence of oxygen?

The valence of oxygen is 2 because it has six electrons in its outermost shell (valence shell). According to the octet rule, atoms tend to bond in ways that allow them to achieve a full outer shell of eight electrons. To reach this stable configuration, oxygen needs to gain or share two additional electrons.

This means that oxygen typically forms two covalent bonds or can accept two electrons in ionic bonding scenarios. In molecular compounds like water (H₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), oxygen indeed forms two bonds, further illustrating its valence of 2. Understanding the valence of elements is crucial for predicting how they will react and combine with other elements in both organic and inorganic chemistry.