Which of the following accurately describes properties of valence?

a. the greater the number of electrons an atom has to borrow or to lend, the greater the activity of the atom.

b. metals tend to have a negative valence and tend to be electron borrowers.

c. nonmetallic elements tend to have a positive valence and tend to be electron borrowers.

d. the smaller the number of electrons an atom has to borrow or to lend, the greater the activity of the atom.

Option (D) is the correct answer.

Explanation:

According to the octet rule, in order to attain stability every atom requires to complete its octet by gaining or losing valence electrons.

The reactivity of an atom depends on the number of valence electrons. Smaller is the number of valence electrons to be gained or lose, the greater will be the activity of atom.

For example, atomic number of chlorine is 17 so, it just needs to gain one more electron to completely fill its shell. Whereas atomic number of aluminium is 13 so, it needs to lose 3 electrons in order to gain stability.

Thus, activity of chlorine atom will be more as compared to aluminium atom.

Thus, we can conclude that smaller the number of electrons an atom has to borrow or to lend, the greater the activity of the atom.

Option (D) is the correct answer.

Explanation:

Valence electrons are the electrons present in the outermost shell of an element.

For example, fluorine is a non-metal with atomic number 9. It contains 7 valence electrons and in order to attain stability it needs to gain only one electron.

Therefore, it is very reactive in nature. This also means that smaller is the electrons an atom needs to borrow or lend higher will be its reactivity.

Thus, we can conclude that the statement smaller the number of electrons an atom has to borrow or to lend, the greater the activity of the atom, accurately describes properties of valence.