The aluminum atom________ electrons to form an ion.
The ion that is formed is_________.
The correct Answer and Explanation is:
The aluminum atom loses electrons to form an ion.
The ion that is formed is Al³⁺.
Explanation:
Aluminum (Al) is an element in Group 13 of the periodic table, meaning it has three valence electrons in its outermost electron shell. These electrons are in the 3rd energy level (or shell), specifically in the 3s²3p¹ configuration. The tendency of aluminum, like other elements in Group 13, is to lose these three valence electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration.
When aluminum loses these three electrons, it no longer has any electrons in its outermost shell. As a result, the ion formed is Al³⁺, a cation with a +3 charge. This is because the loss of three negatively charged electrons leaves the aluminum atom with a net positive charge.
The electron configuration of the aluminum atom (1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p¹) becomes the configuration of neon (1s² 2s² 2p⁶) after losing the three electrons. This is a more stable configuration because neon, a noble gas, has a full octet of electrons in its outermost shell, which is considered energetically stable. This stability is what drives aluminum to lose its three valence electrons, forming the Al³⁺ ion.
In summary, aluminum loses three electrons to form a cation, Al³⁺, which has the electron configuration of neon. This loss of electrons leads to a positive charge on the aluminum ion, symbolized as Al³⁺.