Electro negativity and ionization energy

Post edited at 2:12 pm on Sep. 14, 2008 by Arcarius

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Redemption comes.

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nooo
i mean how do you know when if for example you need 5 electrons (because theres only 3 in the outer shell) , how do you know if you ADD 5 or SUBTARCT 3?

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Well non-metals take electrons, so I guess you add to them.

Metals give them away so you subtract?

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Redemption comes.

An element always tries to reach it's most stable state, and it can achieve this by having a full outer shell. To do this an element can either gain electrons or lose electrons. For those with less than 4 electrons in its outer shell, it is simpler and takes less energy to lose the electrons and get a full outer shell (it being the second outer shell - now the first) than it would to gain electrons and get a full outer shell.

Conversely it takes less energy for elements with more than four electrons in their outer shell to gain electrons and get a full shell than it does for them to lose the electrons. Elements with exactly 4 electrons can go either way.

When an element loses or accepts electrons it forms an ion, because the number of protons are not the same as the number of electrons. When it loses electrons it forms a positive charge, when it gains electrons it forms a negative charge.

For example Magnesium contains 2 electrons in its outer shell (being in group 2), so it loses two electrons to form its ion - Mg2+. Chlorine however has 7 electrons in its outer shell, so it gains one electron to become the ion Cl-.

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and victorious in war shall be made glorious in peace.

"a complete circle of 8 electrons in outer shell" wrong definition.. don't use that.

Draw the electron configuration diagram is a much better way to determine a molecule is electron deficient or not.

If a bond forms, then the electron will be close to the more ELECTRONEGATIVE element. ionic and covalent is simply made up by people to simply the bond types for beginners. Ionic bonds are when the electronegativity of the two bonding atoms are so great that the electron is just really close to the other atom.
Also.. ionic atoms can dissociate:P

Basically, you put the negative charge on the more electronegative atom... if they are not in the ionic range, then just put the partial negative charge on the more electronegative  atom.