Question

Predict the common charges (hint: there are two) of the ions of tin. Explain your reasoning in terms of electron configurations.

Answer 1

Answer:
`Sn^(2+)` and
`Sn^(4+)`

Explanation:-

Electronic configuration represents the total number of electrons that a neutral element contains. We add all the superscripts to know the number of electrons in an atom.

The electrons are filled according to Afbau's rule in order of increasing energies and thus the electronic configuration in terms of nearest noble gas for tin with atomic number of 50 and thus 50 electrons

`Sn:50:Kr4d^(10)5s^25p^2`

It can lose two electrons from 5 p orbital to form
`Sn^(2+)` or can lose 4 electrons from 5p and 5s to form
`Sn^(4+)`.Tin loses electrons to acquire noble gas configurations to acquire stability.

`Sn^(2+):48:Kr4d^(10)5s^2`

`Sn^(4+):46:Kr4d^(10)`