Question

How will the calcium atom shown below achieve an octet if it takes part in an ionic bond?

a
The calcium atom will gain 8 electrons.
b
The calcium atom will lose 6 electrons.
c
The calcium atom will gain 2 electrons.
d
The calcium atom will gain 20 electrons.
e
The calcium atom will gain 6 electrons.
f
The calcium atom will lose 8 electrons.
g
The calcium atom will lose 20 electrons.
h
The calcium atom will lose 2 electrons.

Answer 1

A calcium atom will achieve an octet in an ionic bond by losing two valence electrons, forming a calcium ion with a 2+ charge that is isoelectronic with argon.

Step-by-step explanation:

The calcium atom will achieve an octet in an ionic bond by losing electrons. Since calcium is a group 2 element with atomic number 20, it naturally has two valence electrons in its outer shell. According to the octet rule, atoms strive to have eight electrons in their valence shell. To achieve this, calcium will lose these two valence electrons to become more stable, thus forming a calcium ion (Ca2+) with a 2+ charge. This ion is now isoelectronic with the noble gas argon, meaning it has the same number of electrons as argon, satisfying the octet rule.

Answer 2

It will lose 2 electrons

Step-by-step explanation:

Here we have a calcium atom, which has 20 electrons.

Those 20 electrons are in 4 shells. (2-8-8-2)

Saying there are 2 electrons in the valence shell (Shell N), to get to an octet with an ionic bond (with a group 16 element), those 2 electrons will have to go.