Question

Explain why the ions Ca^1+ and S^3- do not exist.

Answer 1

Ion Ca^1+ does not exist because the Calcium atom (Ca) is in group 2 of the periodic table, so the cation of Calcium is Ca^2+.

Ion S^3- does not exist because its oxidation numbers are 2, 4 and 6, so the possible anions of the Sulfur atom (S) are S^2+, S^4+ and S^6+.