9.6: Electron Configurations of Ions

Learning Objectives

• Predict the charge of common metallic and nonmetallic elements, and write their electron configurations

 

Electronic Configuration of Cations

When forming a cation, an atom of a main group element tends to lose all of its valence electrons, thus assuming the electronic structure of the noble gas that precedes it in the periodic table. For groups 1 (the alkali metals) and 2 (the alkaline earth metals), the group numbers are equal to the numbers of valence shell electrons and, consequently, to the charges of the cations formed from atoms of these elements when all valence shell electrons are removed. For example, calcium is a group 2 element whose neutral atoms have 20 electrons and a ground state electron configuration of 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶4s². When a Ca atom loses both of its valence electrons, the result is a cation with 18 electrons, a 2+ charge, and an electron configuration of 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶. The Ca²⁺ ion is therefore isoelectronic with the noble gas Ar.

For groups 12–17, the group numbers exceed the number of valence electrons by 10 (accounting for the possibility of full d subshells in atoms of elements in the fourth and greater periods). Thus, the charge of a cation formed by the loss of all valence electrons is equal to the group number minus 10. For example, aluminum (in group 13) forms 3+ ions (Al³⁺).

Exceptions to the expected behavior involve elements toward the bottom of the groups. In addition to the expected ions Tl³⁺, Sn⁴⁺, Pb⁴⁺, and Bi⁵⁺, a partial loss of these atoms’ valence shell electrons can also lead to the formation of Tl⁺, Sn²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Bi³⁺ ions. The formation of these 1+, 2+, and 3+ cations is ascribed to the inert pair effect, which reflects the relatively low energy of the valence s-electron pair for atoms of the heavy elements of groups 13, 14, and 15. Mercury (group 12) also exhibits an unexpected behavior: it forms a diatomic ion, \(\ce{Hg_2^2+}\) (an ion formed from two mercury atoms, with an Hg-Hg bond), in addition to the expected monatomic ion Hg²⁺ (formed from only one mercury atom).

Transition and inner transition metal elements behave differently than main group elements. Most transition metal cations have 2+ or 3+ charges that result from the loss of their outermost s electron(s) first, sometimes followed by the loss of one or two d electrons from the next-to-outermost shell. For example, iron (1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶3d⁶4s²) forms the ion Fe²⁺ (1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶3d⁶) by the loss of the 4s electrons and the ion Fe³⁺ (1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶3d⁵) by the loss of the 4s electrons and one of the 3d electrons. Although the d orbitals of the transition elements are—according to the Aufbau principle—the last to fill when building up electron configurations, the outermost s electrons are the first to be lost when these atoms ionize. When the inner transition metals form ions, they usually have a 3+ charge, resulting from the loss of their outermost s electrons and a d or f electron.

Example \(\PageIndex{1}\): Determining the Electronic Structures of Cations

There are at least 14 elements categorized as “essential trace elements” for the human body. They are called “essential” because they are required for healthy bodily functions, “trace” because they are required only in small amounts, and “elements” in spite of the fact that they are really ions. Two of these essential trace elements, chromium and zinc, are required as Cr³⁺ and Zn²⁺. Write the electron configurations of these cations.

Solution

First, write the electron configuration for the neutral atoms:

• Zn: [Ar]3d¹⁰4s²
• Cr: [Ar]3d⁵4s¹

Next, remove electrons from the highest energy orbital. For the transition metals, electrons are removed from the s orbital first and then from the d orbital. For the p-block elements, electrons are removed from the p orbitals and then from the s orbital. Zinc is a member of group 12, so it should have a charge of 2+, and thus loses only the two electrons in its s orbital. Chromium is a transition element and should lose its s electrons and then its d electrons when forming a cation. Thus, we find the following electron configurations of the ions:

• Zn²⁺: [Ar]3d¹⁰
• Cr³⁺: [Ar]3d³

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Potassium and magnesium are required in our diet. Write the electron configurations of the ions expected from these elements.

Answer

K⁺: [Ar], Mg²⁺: [Ne]

Electron Configurations of Cations: https://youtu.be/Y--6wNGD5Hk

Electronic Configuration of Anions

Most monatomic anions form when a neutral nonmetal atom gains enough electrons to completely fill its outer s and p orbitals, thereby reaching the electron configuration of the next noble gas. Thus, it is simple to determine the charge on such a negative ion: The charge is equal to the number of electrons that must be gained to fill the s and p orbitals of the parent atom. Oxygen, for example, has the electron configuration 1s²2s²2p⁴, whereas the oxygen anion has the electron configuration of the noble gas neon (Ne), 1s²2s²2p⁶. The two additional electrons required to fill the valence orbitals give the oxide ion the charge of 2– (O^2–).

Example \(\PageIndex{2}\): Determining the Electronic Structure of Anions

Selenium and iodine are two essential trace elements that form anions. Write the electron configurations of the anions.

Solution

Se^2–: [Ar]3d¹⁰4s²4p⁶

I^–: [Kr]4d¹⁰5s²5p⁶

Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)

Write the electron configurations of a phosphorus atom and its negative ion. Give the charge on the anion.

Answer

P: [Ne]3s²3p³

P^3–: [Ne]3s²3p⁶

Electron Configurations of Anions: https://youtu.be/Eg6ZwdNCQrM

Summary

Atoms gain or lose electrons to form ions with particularly stable electron configurations. The charges of cations formed by the representative metals may be determined readily because, with few exceptions, the electronic structures of these ions have either a noble gas configuration or a completely filled electron shell. The charges of anions formed by the nonmetals may also be readily determined because these ions form when nonmetal atoms gain enough electrons to fill their valence shells.