Here's why:

* Electron Configuration: Neon's electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶.

* Valence Electrons: Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost energy level of an atom. For Neon, this is the second energy level (2s² 2p⁶).

* Total Valence Electrons: The 2s subshell has 2 electrons, and the 2p subshell has 6 electrons, for a total of 8 valence electrons.