Multiple Choice
When nonmetals undergo ionization, do they typically form anions or cations?
2
views
2. Atoms & Elements
Ions
Struggling with General Chemistry?
Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
When a sodium atom loses an electron, what typically happens to the electron?
A
It is transferred to another atom, forming a negative ion.
B
It combines with a proton to form a neutron.
C
It remains bound to the sodium atom.
D
It is destroyed and ceases to exist.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that when a sodium atom loses an electron, it undergoes an oxidation process, meaning it loses a negatively charged particle.
Recall that electrons cannot simply disappear or be destroyed; they must be conserved according to the law of conservation of charge and matter.
Recognize that the lost electron typically moves to another atom or molecule, which gains the electron and becomes a negatively charged ion (anion).
This transfer of electrons is the basis for ionic bond formation, where the sodium atom becomes a positively charged ion (cation) and the other atom becomes an anion.
Therefore, the electron is not destroyed or combined with a proton; instead, it is transferred to another atom, resulting in the formation of ions.
Related Videos
Related Practice
