Ions

How are ions made from neutral atoms?

Why?
You have learned that not all atoms of an element are the same. Variation in the number of neutrons
results in different isotopes of the element. In this activity we will explore another variation that can take
lace—the loss and gain of electrons. The exchange of electrons between atoms is a very common way for
chemical change to take place. We will see it many times throughout the year.

1. Use Model 1 on page 54 to complete the following table.

Is the number of | Is the number of | Is the number of Charge
Metal or | protons the same |neutro ns the samelelectrons the same on the
. . : atom ion
|Nonmetal | intheatom in the atom in the
| ion? — e
~““and the ion? |~ and the ion? | ~and the

metal yes yes 7o 1+

Lithium
metal yes yes no 2+
Magnesium
metal yes yes no 3+
Aluminum
nonmetal yes yes no 1-
Fluorine
nonmetal yes yes no 2—
Oxygen
yes yes 70 3—
Nitrogen nonmetal
atom from an ion?
2. Based on the table you completed in Question 1, what distinguishes a neutral
A change in the number of electrons.
3. Examine the isotope symbols in Model 1.
a. Where is the ion charge located in the isotope symbol?
Upper right corner of the symbol.
b. Is a charge indicated on the neutral atoms? If yes, where is it located?
There is no charge indicated.
4. Which subatomic particle carries a positive charge?
Prorons
5. Which subatomic particle carries a negative charge?
Electrons
number of protons
Propose a mathematical equation to calculate the charge on an ion from the
ion examples and
and electrons in an ion. Confirm that your equation works using two positive
two negative ion examples from Model 1.
Number of protons — number of electrons = charge

i
- onsT T
53
I
 5 X Model 1 — Atoms and Ions i|
i
|
i
|
Neutral Atoms Ions
‘Neutral Atoms Tons
Atom of Lithium Ion of Lithium
7. Atom of Fluorine Ion of Fluorine
Symbol ; Li 7.
[
3 Li'+ Symbol 19 19
!| ;B 9F -
o Elcc({\(l)::clc‘l:fi‘slll
e Elccr{\(;‘ll\cfll‘)llsld
o E[:fl;\?ll:cflz':d
e Eleceron clowd
Atomic Diagram Nucleus
Atomic Diagram

No. of Protons © 3 3 No. of Protons @ 9

No. of Neutrons 9
O 4 4 No. of Neutrons O 10
No. of Electrons mm 10
3 2 No. of Electrons s 9 10
Atom of Magnesium | Ion of Magnesium Atom of Oxygen
Symbol “Mg Mg Symbol
Ion of Oxygen

o Electron cloud
Ke o
e Electron cloud
Nucleus ucleus Electron cloud
ucleus
Atomic Diagram
Atomic Diagra:n
AnstwayD) [ooyag YSrH 10§ sonianoy | TIH0

No. of Protons @ 12 12 No. of Protons © 8 8

No. of Neutrons O 12 12 No. of Neutrons O
No. of Electrons 8 8
s 12 10 No. of Electrons mm 8
Atom of Aluminum 10
Ton of Aluminum
Atom of Nitrogen lon of Nitrogen
Symbol o AP Symbol N -
S S o o Electron cloud
Nucleus
Atomic Diagram
Atomic Diagram

No. of Protons © 13
! 13 No. of Protons @ ‘ 7 7
| No. of Neutrons O 14 14 No. of Neutrons
| O \
|
No. of Electrons s 13
1
| 10 No. of Electrons mm | 10
|
1
 ’

)
)
) Read This!
) Chemists refer to positively charged ions as cations. Chemists refer to negarively charged ions as anions.
}
)
"% 7. Fill in the following table.
l
)
Symbol §28r2+ ?ZSZ- ZGJ3+ szf
)
| Atomic Number 38 16 31 35

: Mass Number 88 32 70 80
] Number of protons 38 16 , 31 35

: Number of electrons 36 18 28 3767

1 Number of neutrons 50 16 39 45

| Cation or anion Cation Anion Cation Anion

8. Could a +3 ion of aluminum be made by adding three protons to an aluminum atom? Explain.
No. Changing the number of protons would turn the atom into a different element. Aluminum has 13
protons. An atom that has 16 protons is sulfur.
9. One of your classmates is having trouble understanding ions. He explains the formation of a
cation like this:
“When you add an electron, you get a positive charge because adding is positive in math.”
4. As a group, explain in a grammatically correct sentence why this student is incorrect.
When you add an electron, you get a negatively charged ion.
b. Provide a better description of how math relates to electrons and ion formation.

The electron has a negative charge, so you're adding a negative number.

o TonsT
 Model 2 — Ion Charges for Selected Elements
I II 11T v vV VI VII VIII

1 H+

2 Li+ N3~ 0> Fi-

3 Na* | Mg transition elements AP p3- g2 cr-

2+ 24 +

LK R | e | Gl | e | o Bri-
* 2+ 1+ Sn? 1-
5 Rb Sr Ag Sn4+ I .

T T b o9, I He2+ | Pb2+"

6 B8.2+ Hggz2+ Pb4+

- CATIONS > ANIONS —— N

10. Draw a stair-step line in Model 2 to separate the metals and nonmet
als.
See the boldface line in Model 2.
11. Consider the ions listed in Model 2.
4. In general, do nonmetals form anions or cations?
Anions
6. In general, do merals form anions or cations?
Cations
c. Which nonmetal appears to be an exception to these guidelines?
Hydrogen

TTTS6T T T T DOGIL™ Activities for High School Chemistry =~

 Extension Questions
12. Name the family of elements that make 1- anions as shown in Model 2.
Halogens

13. Name the family of elements that make 2+ cations as shown in Model 2.
Alkaline earth metals

14. For the main group elements (excluding the transition elements), is it necessary to memorize
the type of ion each element makes or could you predict the ion charge using a periodic table?
Explain.
No, elements in a column all make ions that have the same charge. The far columns (excluding Noble
gases) are each 1 (+1 on left and -1 on right), then as you move to the center the charge on the ion
increases by one for each column.
’ 15. In Model 2 there are several elements whose atoms make more than one type of ion. Where in
) the periodic table are these elements usually found?
) The transition elements or the center of the table.

—Tons