Textbook Question
Choose the larger atom in each pair.
(d) N or S
1054
views
Ch. 2 - General Chemistry Translated: Finding the Electrons
Mullins1st EditionOrganic Chemistry: A Learner Centered ApproachISBN: 9780137566471
Not the one you use?Change textbookSelect a different textbook
Table of contents
- Ch. 2 - General Chemistry Translated: Finding the Electrons114
- Ch. 3 - Alkanes and Cycloalkanes: Properties and Conformational Analysis109
- Ch. 4 - Acids and Bases: Electron Flow144
- Ch. 5 - Chemical Reaction Analysis: Thermodynamics and Kinetics118
- Ch. 6 - Stereoisomerism: Arrangement of Atoms in Space112
- Ch. 7 - Principles of Green (Organic) Chemistry3
- Ch. 8 - Alkenes I: Properties and Electrophilic Additions158
- Ch. 9 - Alkenes II: Oxidation and Reduction150
- Ch. 10 - Alkynes: Electrophilic Addition and Redox Reactions101
- Ch. 11 - Properties and Synthesis of Alkyl Halides: Radical Reactions108
- Ch. 12 - Substitution and Elimination: Reactions of Haloalkanes172
- Ch. 13 - Alcohols, Ethers and Related Compounds: Substitution and Elimination239
- Ch. 14 - Structural Identification I: Infrared Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry54
- Ch. 15 - Structural Identification II: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy93
- Ch. 16 - Metals in Organic Chemistry48
- Ch. 17 - Carbonyl Addition Reactions: Aldehydes and Ketones45
- Ch. 18 - Nucleophilic Acyl Substitution I: Carboxylic Acids18
- Ch. 19 - Nucleophilic Acyl Substitution II: Carboxylic Acid Derivatives39
- Ch. 20 - Enolates: Carbonyl Addition and Substitution13
- Ch. 21 - Conjugated Systems I: Stability and Addition Reactions56
- Ch. 22 - Conjugated Systems II: Pericyclic Reactions54
- Ch. 23 - Benzene I: Aromatic Stability and Substitution Reactions64
- Ch. 24 - Benzene II: Reactions Influenced by the Aromatic Ring62
- Ch. 25 - Amines: Structure, Reactions, and Synthesis27
- Ch. 26 - Amino Acids, Proteins, and Peptide Synthesis9
- Ch. 27 - Carbohydrates, Nucleic Acids, and Lipids54
Mullins1st EditionOrganic Chemistry: A Learner Centered ApproachISBN: 9780137566471Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooks
Mullins 1st EditionCh. 2 - General Chemistry Translated: Finding the ElectronsProblem 14b
Mullins 1st EditionCh. 2 - General Chemistry Translated: Finding the ElectronsProblem 14bChapter 1, Problem 14b
How many electrons does an atom of each of the following elements need to lose to achieve a noble gas configuration? By losing that many electrons, which noble gas configuration is achieved?
(b) Aluminum
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the group number of aluminum in the periodic table. Aluminum (Al) is in Group 13, meaning it has 3 valence electrons in its outermost shell.
Determine the nearest noble gas configuration that aluminum can achieve by losing electrons. Noble gases have a full octet (8 electrons in their outer shell) or a full duet for helium. For aluminum, the nearest noble gas configuration is that of neon (Ne), which has 10 electrons.
Calculate how many electrons aluminum needs to lose to achieve the neon configuration. Aluminum has 13 electrons in total, and its electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p¹. By losing 3 electrons (the 3s² and 3p¹ electrons), aluminum will achieve the configuration of neon: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶.
Conclude that aluminum needs to lose 3 electrons to achieve the noble gas configuration of neon.
Verify the stability of the resulting ion. When aluminum loses 3 electrons, it forms the Al³⁺ ion, which is stable due to its noble gas configuration.
Verified video answer for a similar problem:
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
2mWas this helpful?
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. Atoms tend to lose, gain, or share electrons to achieve this stable configuration, typically resembling the nearest noble gas in the periodic table.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:14
The Electron Configuration
Valence Electrons
Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that are involved in chemical bonding. The number of valence electrons determines how many electrons an atom needs to lose, gain, or share to achieve a noble gas configuration. For aluminum, which has three valence electrons, losing these electrons allows it to reach stability.
Recommended video:
Guided course
03:40Valence Electrons of Transition Metals
Ionization Energy
Ionization energy is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom in its gaseous state. For elements like aluminum, understanding ionization energy helps predict how easily an atom can lose electrons to achieve a noble gas configuration. Lower ionization energy indicates that an atom can lose electrons more readily, facilitating the transition to a stable state.
Recommended video:
Guided course
04:28Ionization Potentials
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Choose the larger atom in each pair.
(b) O or F
1150
views
Textbook Question
How many electrons does an atom of each of the following elements need to gain to achieve a noble gas configuration? By gaining that many electrons, which noble gas configuration is achieved?
(a) Oxygen
934
views
Textbook Question
How many electrons does an atom of each of the following elements need to lose to achieve a noble gas configuration? By losing that many electrons, which noble gas configuration is achieved?
(c) Magnesium
566
views
Textbook Question
How many electrons does an atom of each of the following elements need to lose to achieve a noble gas configuration? By losing that many electrons, which noble gas configuration is achieved?
(d) Potassium
758
views
Textbook Question
How many electrons does an atom of each of the following elements need to lose to achieve a noble gas configuration? By losing that many electrons, which noble gas configuration is achieved?
(a) Beryllium
1158
views