Fluorine has 7 valence electrons in its outermost shell. Fluorine belongs to Group 17 (or Group VIIA) of the periodic table, also known as the halogens. Elements in this group have 7 valence electrons, which is one electron short of a complete octet. Fluorine readily forms a single covalent bond by accepting an electron from another atom to achieve a stable configuration with 8 electrons in its outer shell, resembling the noble gas configuration of neon.