Does a cation gain protons to form a positive charge or does it lose electrons?
Solution
The protons in the nucleus do not change during normal chemical reactions. Only the outer electrons move. Positive charges form when electrons are lost.
Iron(III) sulfate [$Fe_2(SO_4)_3$] is composed of $Fe^{3+}$ and $SO_4^{2-}$ ions. Explain why a sample of iron(III) sulfate is uncharged.
Which of the following atoms would be expected to form negative ions in binary ionic compounds and which would be expected to form positive ions: P, I, Mg, Cl, In, Cs, O, Pb, Co?
Solution
P, I, Cl, and O would form anions because they are nonmetals. Mg, In, Cs, Pb, and Co would form cations because they are metals.
Which of the following atoms would be expected to form negative ions in binary ionic compounds and which would be expected to form positive ions: Br, Ca, Na, N, F, Al, Sn, S, Cd?
Predict the charge on the monatomic ions formed from the following atoms in binary ionic compounds:
(a) P
(b) Mg
(c) Al
(d) O
(e) Cl
(f) Cs
Solution
(a) P3–; (b) Mg2+; (c) Al3+; (d) O2–; (e) Cl–; (f) Cs+
Predict the charge on the monatomic ions formed from the following atoms in binary ionic compounds:
(a) I
(b) Sr
(c) K
(d) N
(e) S
(f) In
Write the electron configuration for each of the following ions:
(a) As3–
(b) I–
(c) Be2+
(d) Cd2+
(e) O2–
(f) Ga3+
(g) Li+
(h) N3–
(i) Sn2+
(j) Co2+
(k) Fe2+
(l) As3+
Solution
(a) [Ar]4s23d104p6; (b) [Kr]4d105s25p6 (c) 1s2 (d) [Kr]4d10; (e) [He]2s22p6; (f) [Ar]3d10; (g) 1s2 (h) [He]2s22p6 (i) [Kr]4d105s2 (j) [Ar]3d7 (k) [Ar]3d6, (l) [Ar]3d104s2
Write the electron configuration for the monatomic ions formed from the following elements (which form the greatest concentration of monatomic ions in seawater):
(a) Cl
(b) Na
(c) Mg
(d) Ca
(e) K
(f) Br
(g) Sr
(h) F
Write out the full electron configuration for each of the following atoms and for the monatomic ion found in binary ionic compounds containing the element:
(a) Al
(b) Br
(c) Sr
(d) Li
(e) As
(f) S
Solution
(a) 1s22s22p63s23p1; Al3+: 1s22s22p6; (b) 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p5; 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p6; (c) 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p65s2; Sr2+: 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p6; (d) 1s22s1; Li+: 1s2; (e) 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p3; 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p6; (f) 1s22s22p63s23p4; 1s22s22p63s23p6
From the labels of several commercial products, prepare a list of six ionic compounds in the products. For each compound, write the formula. (You may need to look up some formulas in a suitable reference.)