NEET 2026
- Exam
- NEET
- Year
- 2026
- Subject
- Chemistry
- Chapter
- Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties
NEET 2026 · Chemistry · Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties
The correct statement is
The correct statement is
Options
- AAluminium has five valence orbitals.
- BBoron has a maximum covalency of four.
- CBeryllium has three valence orbitals.
- DMagnesium has a maximum covalency of four.
Correct answer
B. Boron has a maximum covalency of four.
Step-by-step solution
The electronic configuration of Boron (atomic number ) is . Its valence shell is the second shell (), which contains one orbital and three orbitals, giving a total of four valence orbitals. Due to the absence of -orbitals in its valence shell, Boron cannot expand its octet and has a maximum covalency of four (e.g., in ).
Aluminium () has one , three , and five orbitals in its valence shell, making a total of nine valence orbitals.
Beryllium () has one and three orbitals, making a total of four valence orbitals.
Magnesium () has vacant orbitals in its valence shell, allowing it to expand its covalency beyond four (up to six, as in ).
Answer: Boron has a maximum covalency of four.
Aluminium () has one , three , and five orbitals in its valence shell, making a total of nine valence orbitals.
Beryllium () has one and three orbitals, making a total of four valence orbitals.
Magnesium () has vacant orbitals in its valence shell, allowing it to expand its covalency beyond four (up to six, as in ).
Answer: Boron has a maximum covalency of four.