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Magazine Chapter 7: Problem 10
Explain how an ionic compound forms from these elements. aluminum and sulfur
Short Answer
Expert verified
The ionic compound formed is aluminum sulfide, Al鈧係鈧�.
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Elements
Aluminum is a metal with the symbol Al, and sulfur is a non-metal with the symbol S.
02
Determine Valence Electrons
Aluminum is in group 13 and typically loses 3 electrons to achieve a stable octet, forming an Al鲁鈦� ion. Sulfur is in group 16 and typically gains 2 electrons to achieve a stable octet, forming an S虏鈦� ion.
03
Balance the Charges
To form a neutral ionic compound, the charges must balance. Aluminum contributes three electrons, making three positive charges, while sulfur needs two electrons, resulting in two negative charges.
04
Determine the Formula
To balance the charges, two Al鲁鈦� ions are needed to pair with three S虏鈦� ions, giving the compound Al鈧係鈧� (two aluminum ions and three sulfide ions).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Aluminum
Aluminum is a fascinating element with the symbol Al. It's located in group 13 on the periodic table, which tells us a lot about its properties and behavior. This metal is silvery-white, lightweight, and known for its excellent conductivity and resistance to oxidation.
Aluminum has three valence electrons. These are the electrons present in its outermost shell and are crucial because they determine how the element will bond with others. In terms of reactivity, aluminum tends to lose these three electrons in chemical reactions.
Aluminum has three valence electrons. These are the electrons present in its outermost shell and are crucial because they determine how the element will bond with others. In terms of reactivity, aluminum tends to lose these three electrons in chemical reactions.
- Once aluminum loses these electrons, it becomes a positively charged ion, Al鲁鈦�.
- By losing electrons, aluminum achieves a stable electronic configuration similar to noble gases.
- This transformation is crucial for forming compounds like aluminum sulfide.
Sulfur
Sulfur is a non-metal element represented by the symbol S and found in group 16 of the periodic table. Unlike aluminum, sulfur has different chemical properties due to its position.
Sulfur needs two additional electrons to complete its outer shell and achieve a stable octet. This is a vital feature as it determines its role in forming compounds such as aluminum sulfide.
Sulfur needs two additional electrons to complete its outer shell and achieve a stable octet. This is a vital feature as it determines its role in forming compounds such as aluminum sulfide.
- To stabilize, sulfur gains two electrons, becoming a negatively charged ion, S虏鈦�.
- This transformation lets sulfur bond with metals to create ionic compounds.
- When it gains electrons from metals like aluminum, sulfur's electronic configuration mimics the stability of the noble gases.
Valence Electrons
Valence electrons are the outermost electrons of an atom and play a key role in chemical bonding. These electrons determine how elements interact and bond with each other.
In aluminum, which is located in group 13, there are three valence electrons, while sulfur, found in group 16, has six valence electrons. Understanding the concept of valence electrons is essential because:
In aluminum, which is located in group 13, there are three valence electrons, while sulfur, found in group 16, has six valence electrons. Understanding the concept of valence electrons is essential because:
- They dictate how atoms will bond by either gaining, losing, or sharing electrons.
- Elements seek to complete their outer electron shells, akin to the electronic structure of noble gases.
- For aluminum and sulfur, achieving stable electron configurations involves forming ions.
Ion Formation
Ion formation is a process where atoms gain or lose electrons to obtain a full outer shell, resulting in ions with a net electrical charge.
For aluminum, ion formation involves losing three electrons to become Al鲁鈦�. For sulfur, it includes gaining two electrons to become S虏鈦�. Understanding ion formation is critical in chemical bonding.
For aluminum, ion formation involves losing three electrons to become Al鲁鈦�. For sulfur, it includes gaining two electrons to become S虏鈦�. Understanding ion formation is critical in chemical bonding.
- In ionic compounds, ions are held together by strong electrostatic forces.
- Aluminum ions and sulfide ions attract each other due to their opposite charges.
- This attraction results in a compound where the total positive charge balances the total negative charge, leading to neutral compounds like Al鈧係鈧�.
