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Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the most stable monatomic ion formed from aluminum?
A
Al^{+}
B
Al^{3+}
C
Al^{-}
D
Al^{2+}
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Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the concept of ion stability in terms of electron configuration. Atoms tend to form ions that achieve a noble gas electron configuration, which is particularly stable due to a full valence shell.
Step 2: Write the electron configuration of neutral aluminum (Al). Aluminum has an atomic number of 13, so its electron configuration is \$1s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{6} 3s^{2} 3p^{1}$.
Step 3: Consider the possible ions and their electron configurations:
- \(Al^{+}\) means losing 1 electron, resulting in \$1s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{6} 3s^{2}\(.
- \)Al^{2+}\( means losing 2 electrons, resulting in \)1s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{6} 3s^{1}\(.
- \)Al^{3+}\( means losing 3 electrons, resulting in \)1s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{6}$, which is the electron configuration of neon, a noble gas.
Step 4: Analyze the stability of each ion based on their electron configurations. The \(Al^{3+}\) ion has a full octet in its outer shell, matching the stable noble gas configuration, making it the most stable ion.
Step 5: Conclude that among the given options, \(Al^{3+}\) is the most stable monatomic ion formed from aluminum because it achieves a noble gas electron configuration.