Question

Calcium has an atomic number of 20. How many electrons of a calcium atom are involved in chemical bonding?

Answer 1

The answer is 2 electrons.

The electron configuration of calcium is 2:8:8:2

Calcium has two electrons in its outermost shell. These are its valence electrons and are the ones used in bonding with other elements.  Valence electrons of an atom are those electrons that are in its outer energy shell or that are available for bonding.

Calcium is a metal. When metals react with non-metals, electrons are transferred from the metal atoms to the non-metal atoms forming ions. The resulting compound is known  as an ionic compound.

For example, when calcium metal reacts with chlorine gas,   calcium gives up its two valence electrons and Chlorine accepts them resulting in a new substance called calcium chloride in which the two elements have ended up forming ionic bonds.