2.6.1

Valence Electrons & Forming Ions

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Valence Electrons

Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost energy level. Ionic compounds can be formed through the transfer of valence electrons between a metal and non-metal.

Bonding

Bonding

  • Valence electrons are the electrons held in the outermost energy level of an atom.
  • They are transferred from metals to non-metals to create an ionic bond.
  • Atoms will gain or lose electrons in order to achieve a noble gas electron configuration.
    • Noble gases are the most stable atoms and contain eight electrons amongst their s and p orbitals, with the exception of Helium which has 2 valence electrons.
Metals

Metals

  • Metals are located to the left of the metalloids on the periodic table and lose their valence electrons to achieve a noble gas electron configuration.
  • When a metal loses electrons, it becomes positively charged.
    • Neutral atoms have an equal number of protons and electrons and so if an atom loses electrons there will be a surplus of positive charge.
    • When a metal loses electrons and forms a positive ion it is called a cation.
Non-metals

Non-metals

  • Non-metals are to the right of the metalloids and gain electrons into the outermost energy level to achieve a noble gas electron configuration.
    • When a non-metal gains electrons, it becomes negatively charged and is called an anion.
Forming a bond

Forming a bond

  • The metal will lose electrons and the non-metal will gain them.
  • This creates a bond through electrostatic forces of attraction between the positively and negatively charged ions.
    • Presto, we have an ionic bond.
The periodic table

The periodic table

  • The number of valence electrons an element has can be figured out by looking at which group in the periodic table the element is in.
    • For example, all the elements in Group 7 have 7 electrons in their outershell.
Jump to other topics
1

Structure - Models of the Particulate of Matter

2

Structure - Models of Bonding & Structure

3

Structure - Classification of Matter

3.1

The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements

3.2

Periodic Trends

3.3

Group 1 Alkali Metals

3.4

Halogens

3.5

Noble gases, group 18

3.6

Functional Groups: Classification of Organic

3.7

Functional Group Chemistry

3.8

Alkanes

3.9

Alcohols

3.10

Halogenoalkanes

4

Reactivity - What Drives Chemical Reaction?

5

Reactivity - How Much, How Fast & How Far?

6

Reactivity - The Mechanisms of Chemical Change

7

Measurement, Data Processing & Analysis

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