Multiple Choice
Which of the following processes would produce an anion?
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2. Atoms & Elements
Ions
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When a lithium atom becomes an ion, which of the following best describes the resulting species?
A
It loses two electrons to form Li^{2+}
B
It gains two electrons to form Li^{2-}
C
It loses one electron to form Li^+
D
It gains one electron to form Li^-
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall that lithium (Li) is an element with atomic number 3, meaning it has 3 protons and, in its neutral state, 3 electrons.
Understand that when atoms form ions, they either lose or gain electrons to achieve a more stable electron configuration, often resembling the nearest noble gas.
For lithium, losing one electron results in a configuration similar to helium (He), which is a stable noble gas configuration with 2 electrons.
Losing two electrons to form Li^{2+} is less common because it would require removing an electron from a stable inner shell, which requires significantly more energy.
Gaining electrons to form Li^- or Li^{2-} is unlikely because lithium is a metal and tends to lose electrons rather than gain them.
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