Question

What type of ion would radium (88Ra) become when forming an ionic compound, and what would the oxidation number be?

A) a cation with a +2 charge

B) a cation with a -2 charge

C) an anion with a +1 charge

D) an anion with a -1 charge

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Step-by-step explanation:

Radium is an atom with the atomic number of 88. It is a metal found in group 2 of the periodic table; meaning that it has two valence electrons in it's outermost shell. As a metal that wants to form an ionic compound, radium would have to lose these two valence electrons to become a divalent positively charged cation (Ra²⁺). Thus, the correct option is A