Problem 32 - Chemistry The Central Science

Question

A friend tells you that the "neon" in neon signs is a compound of neon and aluminum. Can your friend be correct? Explain.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

No, your friend is incorrect. Neon is a noble gas with a full octet of electrons, making it stable and not prone to forming compounds, while aluminum can form compounds by losing its 3 valence electrons. Since neon doesn't have any electrons available for bond formation, a compound of neon and aluminum is highly improbable.

Step 1 - Understanding Neon and Aluminum Properties

Neon (Ne) is a noble gas element with an atomic number of 10, while aluminum (Al) is a metal element with an atomic number of 13. We will examine their electron configurations to understand their bonding capabilities.

Step 2 - Writing the Electron Configurations

To determine the electron configurations of the elements, we can use the periodic table as a guide. For neon (Ne), the electron configuration is: \(1s^2 2s^2 2p^6\) For aluminum (Al), the electron configuration is: \(1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^1\)

Step 3 - Analyzing the Electron Configurations for Bond Formation

Now, we analyze the electron configurations to determine what type of bond, if any, can form between Neon and Aluminum. Neon has a completely filled outer shell (2s^2 2p^6) with 8 electrons, known as an octet. Noble gases usually don't form compounds due to their full octet, which indicates stability. Aluminum has 3 valence electrons in its outer shell (3s^2 3p^1). It can form compounds by losing its 3 valence electrons and forming an ionic bond with elements that can accept these electrons.

Step 4 - Determine the Possibility of a Compound Formation

Since Neon has a stable electron configuration with a complete octet, it doesn't have a tendency to form compounds by sharing, losing, or accepting electrons. On the other hand, Aluminum can form a compound by losing its valence electrons to another element. Because Neon doesn't have any electrons available to form bonds, it is highly improbable that a compound of Neon and Aluminum can exist. Therefore, your friend's statement is incorrect.