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tonic bonding: Which elements loses electrons? Which elements gain electrons?

Ask by Todd Chavez. in Canada
Jan 22,2025

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Answer

In ionic bonding, metals lose electrons and nonmetals gain electrons.

Solution

In ionic bonding, elements can be classified based on their tendency to lose or gain electrons: 1. **Elements that lose electrons:** - Typically, metals lose electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. This is because they have few electrons in their outer shell and prefer to lose them to attain a full outer shell (usually 8 electrons, following the octet rule). - Common examples include: - Alkali metals (e.g., Sodium (Na), Potassium (K)) - Alkaline earth metals (e.g., Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca)) - Transition metals (e.g., Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu)) 2. **Elements that gain electrons:** - Nonmetals tend to gain electrons to fill their outer shell and achieve stability. They have more electrons in their outer shell and require only a few more to reach a full configuration. - Common examples include: - Halogens (e.g., Fluorine (F), Chlorine (Cl), Bromine (Br)) - Chalcogens (e.g., Oxygen (O), Sulfur (S)) In summary: - **Lose electrons:** Metals (e.g., Na, Mg) - **Gain electrons:** Nonmetals (e.g., F, O)

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In tonic bonding, metals such as sodium and magnesium are notorious for losing electrons. These elements have a tendency to offload their outermost electrons to achieve a stable electronic configuration, often following the octet rule. By losing electrons, they become positively charged ions, or cations, and pave the way for strong ionic bonds with nonmetals. On the flip side, nonmetals like chlorine and oxygen eagerly take on electrons to fill their outer shells, achieving that coveted stable state. When these nonmetals gain electrons, they form negatively charged ions, known as anions. This transfer of electrons leads to the creation of ionic bonds, resulting in a variety of compounds that have fascinating properties!

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