Hydrogen, lithium, and sodium each have a valency of one because they possess one electron in their outermost shell, making them capable of losing one electron.
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Valency directly correlates with the number of electrons gained, lost, or shared during chemical bonding, ensuring the attainment of a stable electron configuration.
Valency is determined by the number of electrons gained, lost, or shared to achieve a full outer shell (usually eight electrons, known as the octet rule).
Atoms react in order to achieve an octet in their outermost shell, either by gaining, losing, or sharing electrons with other atoms.
An outermost shell possessing eight electrons is said to possess an octet.