Chemistry Question – Ionic Bonding

14 Mar

Posted by: sean in: Chemistry Notes & Tips

A cool question that i asked my students during the Intensive Revision Program. This will test you on your understanding of basic concepts of Ionic Bonding. Give it a try!

Question:
The proton number of calcium is 20. When calcium forms an ionic compound, the electronic configuration of the calcium ion is:
A 2.8.8
B 2.8.8.1
C 2.8.8.2
D 2.8.8.8

Cheers
Sean

PS: Check “Comments” below for Suggested Answers.

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7 Responses

Gary
15|Mar|2008 1

Answer should be A.

When ionic cpd is formed,its stable.

Reply
Jennifer
15|Mar|2008 2

Yes. I agree with Gary.

Calcium has 20 electrons. It is a group II metal

When it forms an ionic compound, it lose 2 electrons readily to obtain the octet/noble gas configuration for it to become stable.

Calcium metal becomes a cation with charge 2+

Hence, electronic configuration: 2.8.8

Reply
Saud Reply:
March 1st, 2010 at 1:41 am
hey jennifer i like your group reference

Reply
sean
17|Mar|2008 3

Well Done Gary & Jennifer.

The explaination given by both of you are correctly described.

You should be able to answer Section B and C questions for such Ionic Bonding
topic with ease.

Keep up that tempo!

Cheers
Sean

Reply
abedelfeta
24|Mar|2008 4

dose ionic compuonds have dipole dipole atrction?

Reply
sean
26|Mar|2008 5

Hi Abedelfeta,

I suppose you are from a higher education level than GCE O Level Sec 4/5 or US
Grade 9-11 since they do not really learn about Dipole Dipole Attraction.

For GCE O Level standard, i would like to state that dipole-dipole is the ’same’ as
Ionic Bonding. This is to make sure they are not confused with new chemistry
terms that are not tested.

But in reality and higher education, Dipole-Dipole is only Similar to Ionic Bonding,
this meaning that they are different.

Ionic Bonding occurs when there is one element that loves to give electrons away (i.e. Grp 1 metal) and an element that loves to
take in electrons (i.e. Grp 7 halogens). There is a distinct and specific electron transfer from one element to another.

In dipole-dipole, the two elements do not have High tendency to lose and gain an
electron. Instead, there is slight amount of sharing within the 2 elements.

Detailed explaination can be seen at: http://web.mst.edu/~gbert/INTERACT/intermolecular.HTM

Hope that helps,
Sean

Reply
Saud
01|Mar|2010 6

A…………….

in form of an ion calcium has actually lost two of its electrons hence there are 20 – 2 = 18 electrons in an ion of calcium and making its diagram the electronic structure becomes 2, 8, 8….

Reply