Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
What is the most common ionic charge of an aluminum ion?
A
+3
B
-3
C
+1
D
+2
Verified step by step guidance
1
Recall that aluminum is a metal located in Group 13 (or IIIA) of the periodic table.
Elements in Group 13 typically lose three electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration similar to the nearest noble gas.
When aluminum loses three electrons, it forms an ion with a charge of +3, because electrons are negatively charged and losing them results in a positive charge.
Therefore, the most common ionic charge of an aluminum ion is +3.
This is consistent with the general trend that metals form cations with positive charges equal to the number of electrons lost to reach a stable configuration.