How many valence electrons does Zinc have?

[DariushS]

Zinc's ground state electron configuration, with all numbers in parenthesis as exponents, is 1s(2)2s(2)2p(6)3s(2)3p(6)4s(2)3d(10).

 

This question confuses me because 4 is a bigger number than 3, however part of the third shell is higher in energy than part of the fourth shell. Is the valence shell the third or fourth shell? If the third shell is the valence shell, are all the third shell electrons considered valence or only the 10 in the d orbitals?

 

To gain the nearest noble gas configuration will Zinc gain 6 electrons in the fourth shell p orbitals, or will it lose the 2 electrons in the fourth shell s orbital?

 

Thanks in advance.

Edited June 2, 2014 by DariushS