Electronic Configuration of Ions

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Electronic Configuration of Ions

• Nonmetallic elements form anions (-)
• Hydrogen atoms gain one electron to form H- with
  a stable 1s2 electron configuration.
• The other nonmetallic elements gain one, two, or
  three electrons to achieve a stable ns2np6
  configuration. The group 17 nonmetals form -1
  ions, the group 16 nonmetals form -2 ions, and
  the group 15 nonmetals form -3 ions.
• Metallic elements form cations. (You will only be
  able to predict some of the charges on these
  cations.)
• Many elements lose one, two, or three electrons
  and achieve one or two of the stable electron
  configurations 1s2, ns2np6, nd10, or
  nd10(n1)s2. 

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     Zn Ar 3d10 4s2                Zn2  Ar
3d10                    
  Li      1s2 2s1               
Li     1s2   Mg    1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2
           Mg2     1s2 2s2 2p6    Cl      1s2
2s2 2p6 3s2 3p5    Cl- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6
  Sn     Kr 4d10 5s2 5p2    Sn2   Kr
4d10 5s2 Tl    Xe 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p1
               Tl         Xe 4f14 5d10
6s2 Tl     Xe 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p1
Tl3  Xe 4f14 5d10             
                                          
                        

• Ions tend to form to gain the 1s2, ns2, np6,
  nd10, or nd10(n1)s2 electron configuration for
  their highest energy electrons.

When cations form, electrons are lost from the
largest orbitals first.
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Possible Ions
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