Ch.6 - Ionic Compounds: Periodic Trends and Bonding Theory

McMurry8th EditionChemistryISBN: 9781292336145Not the one you use?Change textbook

McMurry 8th Edition

Ch.6 - Ionic Compounds: Periodic Trends and Bonding Theory

Problem 74b

Chapter 6, Problem 74b

What noble-gas configurations and charge are the following elements likely to attain in reactions in which they form ions? (b) Ca

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Identify the atomic number of the element. The atomic number of Calcium (Ca) is 20. This means it has 20 electrons in its neutral state.

Step 2: Determine the electron configuration of the element. The electron configuration of Calcium (Ca) is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s².

Step 3: Identify the nearest noble gas before the element. The nearest noble gas before Calcium (Ca) is Argon (Ar) with an atomic number of 18.

Step 4: Determine the number of electrons the element needs to lose or gain to achieve a noble gas configuration. Calcium (Ca) needs to lose 2 electrons to achieve the electron configuration of Argon (Ar).

Step 5: Determine the charge of the ion. Since Calcium (Ca) loses 2 electrons, it will have a charge of +2. Therefore, Calcium (Ca) is likely to form a +2 ion with the electron configuration of Argon (Ar) in reactions.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Noble Gas Configuration

Noble gas configuration refers to the electron arrangement of noble gases, which have full outer electron shells, making them stable and unreactive. Elements tend to achieve this configuration by gaining, losing, or sharing electrons during chemical reactions. For example, calcium (Ca) will lose two electrons to attain the electron configuration of the nearest noble gas, argon (Ar).

Ion Formation

Ion formation occurs when atoms gain or lose electrons, resulting in charged particles called ions. Metals, like calcium, typically lose electrons to form positively charged ions (cations), while nonmetals gain electrons to form negatively charged ions (anions). In the case of calcium, it forms a Ca²⁺ ion by losing two electrons.

Charge of Ions

The charge of an ion indicates the difference between the number of protons and electrons in an atom. A positive charge means the atom has lost electrons, while a negative charge indicates it has gained electrons. For calcium, the likely charge when it forms an ion is +2, reflecting the loss of two electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration.

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