👉 The term "valences" in chemistry refers to the number of electrons that a substance possesses. In simple terms, it indicates how many protons and neutrons are present around the nucleus of an atom. This concept is crucial for understanding the chemical bonding between atoms and their properties. For example, when two atoms react, one atom gains a positive charge (protons) from the other, while the other atom loses a negative charge (neutrons). The number of protons in the first
