How do positive and negative ions form?

1 Answer
Brandon
Jun 3, 2018

See below.

Explanation:

They form through Ionic bonding.

Elements gain or lose electrons to form ions and to gain full outer shells.

For example, let's look at Lithium and Fluorine:

Lithium has #3# electrons, so it needs to lose one to gain a full outer shell.

Fluorine would gain this electron to have #10# electrons, giving it #2# full outer shells.

The Lithium atom would turn into an #Li^+# ion with an electronic configuration of #2#, as an electron has a negative charge, losing one would give a positive charge.

The Fluorine atom would change to a #F^-# ion with an electronic configuration of #2,8# as it gains a negatively charged subatomic particle, so it turns negative as the atom of an element always has a charge of #0#.

This would form lithium fluoride as a result of this ionic bonding.

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