Question

How is the electron configuration of an anion different from that of the corresponding neutral atom?

ANSWER:

a. add the number of electrons required by the magnitude of the charge of the anion
b. subtract the number of electrons required by the magnitude of the charge of the anion
c. the electron configurations of an anion and the corresponding neutral atom are the same

Answer 1

The electron configuration of an anion is different from that of the corresponding neutral atom because the anion adds the number of electrons required by the magnitude of its charge.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electron configuration of an anion is different from that of the corresponding neutral atom in that it adds the number of electrons required by the magnitude of the charge of the anion. For example, oxygen 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-