Valency of Iridium (Ir)
Iridium shows variable valency — most commonly 3 and 4 — because it is a d-block element whose outer electrons can join bonding in more than one way.
Teachers call it "one fact, fully handled" — exactly what this page does for Iridium. 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 Iridium page is one click away.
Counting the valence electrons
From the configuration [Xe] 4f^14 5d^7 6s^2, Iridium's outermost shell carries 2 electrons. For a d-block element the nearby inner "d" subshell can also lend electrons, which is where variable valency comes from.
Position check: Iridium belongs to group 9 of the periodic table, period 6.
Why Iridium has more than one valency
The common valencies are 3 and 4. Both the outer s electrons and the nearby (n−1)d electrons sit close in energy, so Iridium can offer different numbers of them in different compounds — giving ions such as Ir³⁺ and Ir⁴⁺ and families of compounds like Ir₃X₂ / Ir₄X₂.
Valency vs valence electrons
Valence electrons are what you count (2 for Iridium); valency is what the atom will do to complete its outer shell (3 and 4 here). Keep the two words straight and half the periodic-table chapter writes itself.
Students also ask
How do I find the valency of Iridium from its group?
Iridium sits in group 9; for this transition group the safe exam answer is its common valency, 3 and 4.
Why does Iridium show variable valency?
Because both its outer shell and the nearby inner subshell can participate in bonding, Iridium forms more than one stable ion — hence valencies 3 and 4.