Question

Alkali metals tend to form ions w/ what charge?

Option 1: +1
Option 2: -1
Option 3: +2
Option 4: -2

Answer 1

Alkali metals form ions with a +1 charge due to the loss of one valence electron, aligning with their position in the first column of the periodic table.

Step-by-step explanation:

Alkali metals, which are located in the first column of the periodic table, tend to form ions with a +1 charge. This is because alkali metals have one valence electron, which they lose easily to achieve a stable electronic configuration, resembling the nearest noble gas.

As a result, an atom of an alkali metal such as sodium (Na) will lose one electron and form a cation with a 1+ charge, symbolized as Na+. By contrast, alkaline earth metals that are in group 2 of the periodic table form 2+ ions, and halogens in group 17 form 1- ions. The periodic table is therefore a valuable tool for predicting the charge on many ions based on their group number.