For periods 2 and above, what is the maximum number of valence electrons that an atom can have? a 6 b 8 C 2 d 18

## Step 1<br />The problem is asking for the maximum number of valence electrons that an atom can have in periods 2 and above. Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom and are involved in forming bonds with other atoms.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />The maximum number of valence electrons an atom can have is determined by the number of electrons that can fit in the outermost shell. The outermost shell of an atom can hold a maximum of 8 electrons. This is known as the octet rule.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The octet rule is a chemical rule of thumb that reflects observation that atoms of main-group elements tend to combine in ways that each atom has eight electrons in its valence shell, giving it the same electronic configuration as a noble gas.