Alkaline earth metal

Valency of Calcium (Ca)

Quick answer

The valency of Calcium is 2 — it has 2 valence electrons, and it loses them to complete its outer shell.

Teachers call it "one fact, fully handled" — exactly what this page does for Calcium. The answer sits at the top in bold; scroll for the working, the shell-by-shell breakdown and the two questions students ask most. Need the whole picture instead — history, characteristics, uses, exam questions? The full Calcium page is one click away.

Counting the valence electrons

From the configuration [Ar] 4s^2, Calcium's outermost shell carries 2 electrons. These are the electrons shown as dots in electron-dot diagrams — the hands Calcium uses to hold other atoms.

Position check: Calcium belongs to group 2 of the periodic table, period 4.

Valency vs valence electrons

Valence electrons are what you count (2 for Calcium); valency is what the atom will do to complete its outer shell (2 here). Keep the two words straight and half the periodic-table chapter writes itself.

Students also ask

How do I find the valency of Calcium from its group?

Calcium sits in group 2; groups 1–2 metals have valency equal to the group number — 2 here.

Why does Calcium show a fixed valency?

Calcium has 2 valence electrons and reaches a complete outer shell in one consistent way, so its valency stays fixed at 2.