Q3E - Chemistry (OpenStax)

Question

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:\({\rm{P, I, Mg, Cl, In, Cs, O, Pb, Co}}\)?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The non-metals, \({\rm{P, I, Cl}}\), and \({\rm{O}}\) will create anions, as well as the metals \({\rm{Mg, In, Cs, Pb}}\), and \({\rm{Co}}\) will produce cations.

Step 1: Define Chemical Bonding

A chemical bond is a long-term attraction between atoms, ions, or molecules that allows chemical compounds to form.

Step 2: Explanation

Binary ionic compounds are composed of two ions, one metal and the other non-metal.

Non-metals gain electrons to achieve noble-gas electronic configuration and so form anion, whereas metals readily lose electrons to get noble-gas electronic configuration and thus create cation.

\({\rm{P, I, Cl}}\), and \({\rm{O}}\) will create anions in this question because they are non-metals.

On the other hand\({\rm{Mg, In, Cs, Pb}}\), and \({\rm{Co}}\) will produce cations since they are metals.

Therefore, non-metals, \({\rm{P, I, Cl}}\), and \({\rm{O}}\) will create anions, whereas metals \({\rm{Mg, In, Cs, Pb}}\), and \({\rm{Co}}\) will produce cations.