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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

  1. AAluminium has five valence orbitals.
  2. BBoron has a maximum covalency of four.
  3. CBeryllium has three valence orbitals.
  4. 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 55) is 1s22s22p11s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{1}. Its valence shell is the second shell (n=2n=2), which contains one 2s2s orbital and three 2p2p orbitals, giving a total of four valence orbitals. Due to the absence of dd-orbitals in its valence shell, Boron cannot expand its octet and has a maximum covalency of four (e.g., in [BF4]−[BF_{4}]^{-}).

Aluminium (n=3n=3) has one 3s3s, three 3p3p, and five 3d3d orbitals in its valence shell, making a total of nine valence orbitals.

Beryllium (n=2n=2) has one 2s2s and three 2p2p orbitals, making a total of four valence orbitals.

Magnesium (n=3n=3) has vacant 3d3d orbitals in its valence shell, allowing it to expand its covalency beyond four (up to six, as in [Mg(H2O)6]2+[Mg(H_{2}O)_{6}]^{2+}).

Answer: Boron has a maximum covalency of four.
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