Question

04

Lithium reacts with chlorine to produce lithium chloride.
The diagram below shows what happens to the electrons in the outer shells when a lithium
atom reacts with a chlorine atom.
The dots (o) and crosses (x) represent electrons.
0·0-1010
[1 mark]
Describe what happens to a lithium atom and to a chlorine atom when they react.
Use the diagram to answer in terms of electrons.

Answer 1

In the reaction between lithium (Li) and chlorine (Cl), a lithium atom, which has one valence electron, donates its electron to a chlorine atom, which needs one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration.

The diagram represents this exchange, where the lithium atom (Li) loses its valence electron (depicted as •) to chlorine (Cl), represented by the acceptance of the electron (depicted as ×).

This electron transfer forms Li+ (lithium ion) and Cl- (chloride ion), resulting in the ionic compound lithium chloride (LiCl).

The electron transfer satisfies the octet rule for both elements, achieving more stable electron configurations.