Exercises: How ionic compounds form
Practice★☆☆
Sodium (Na) has 1 electron in its valence shell and chlorine (Cl) has 7. Explain in your own words how table salt (NaCl) forms: which atom gives up electrons, which atom…
Sodium (Na) has 1 electron in its valence shell and chlorine (Cl) has 7. Explain in your own words how table salt (NaCl) forms: which atom gives up electrons, which atom gains them, which ions appear, and why they stay together.
Practice★☆☆
Magnesium (Mg) has 2 valence electrons and chlorine (Cl) has 7. When magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) forms, how many electrons does each magnesium atom give up, and how many…
Magnesium (Mg) has 2 valence electrons and chlorine (Cl) has 7. When magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) forms, how many electrons does each magnesium atom give up, and how many chlorine atoms are needed to receive them? Explain why the formula is MgCl₂ and not MgCl.
Practice★★☆
Calcium (Ca) has 2 valence electrons and oxygen (O) has 6. Predict the charges of the ions formed when both elements react and write the formula of the resulting ionic…
Calcium (Ca) has 2 valence electrons and oxygen (O) has 6. Predict the charges of the ions formed when both elements react and write the formula of the resulting ionic compound (quicklime, widely used in Mexico to nixtamalize corn). Justify your answer.