The calculation of valence electrons in a 1cm³ crystal of silicon (Si) involves understanding its atomic structure and density. Silicon has four valence electrons per atom. To determine the total number of valence electrons in a 1cm³ crystal, one must first calculate the mass of silicon using its density, then convert that mass to the number of atoms using Avogadro's number. It is crucial to accurately compute the volume of the crystal, as 1cm³ is not simply three times 1cm.
PREREQUISITESStudents studying chemistry, particularly those focused on solid-state physics or materials science, as well as educators teaching atomic structure and electron configurations.