Student worksheet

7.5 Ions have more or less electrons

Atoms form ions when they gain or lose electrons
1 How do atoms form ions?

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2 Why will atoms form ions?

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3 Complete the following table to indicate the charge on the ions of the following atoms.

NAME AND ELECTRON HOW MANY ELECTRON CHARGE NAME ANION

SYMBOL OF CONFIGURATION ELECTRONS CONFIGURATION OF ION AND OR
ATOM OF ATOM WILL IT GAIN/ OF ION FORMULA CATION?
LOSE OF ION
lithium (Li)

sodium (Na) 2, 8, 1 lose 1 2, 8 +1 sodium cation

berylium (Be)

magnesium
(Mg)

boron (B)

aluminium (Al)

nitrogen (N)

phosphorous
(P)

© Oxford University Press 2016

Oxford Science 9 Teacher obook/assess ISBN 9780190301026
Permission has been granted for this page to be photocopied within the purchasing institution only.
oxygen (O) 2, 6 gain 2 2, 8 -2 oxide anion

sulfur (S)

fluorine (F)

chlorine (Cl) 2, 8, 7 gain 1 2, 8, 8 -1 chloride anion

4 What is the charge on all ions in the following:

a Group 1

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b Group 2

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c Group 3

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d Group 15

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e Group 16

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f Group 17

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5 What is the name of the type of bonding between an anion and a cation?

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© Oxford University Press 2016

Oxford Science 9 Teacher obook/assess ISBN 9780190301026
Permission has been granted for this page to be photocopied within the purchasing institution only.
EXTEND YOUR UNDERSTANDING
6 When ions bond, the formulae of the molecule can be determined using the cross down rule. An
example of this is shown below. Complete the table to determine the formulae of molecules. Note: If
elements have a charge of 1+ or 1-, the one does not cross down. Instead, you leave it blank (see
example 2).

ELEMENT CATION ELEMENT ANION FORMULA

3+ 2-
aluminium Al sulfur S

sodium Na1+ chlorine Cl1-

beryllium fluorine

sodium sulphur

magnesium chlorine

lithium fluorine

aluminium oxygen

© Oxford University Press 2016

Oxford Science 9 Teacher obook/assess ISBN 9780190301026
Permission has been granted for this page to be photocopied within the purchasing institution only.