Question #0f813

1 Answer
Meave60
Nov 17, 2015

Metals form cations.

Explanation:

Metal atoms lose one or more valence electrons when forming ions. The atoms of the alkali metals (group 1) have 1 valence electron, which they lose when forming compounds. The atoms of the alkaline earth metals (group 2) have 2 valence electrons, which they lose when forming compounds. Aluminum atoms, in group 13, have 3 valence electrons, which they lose when forming compounds.

The transition metals also lose electrons when forming compounds, and many if not most form more than one ion, such as copper, which forms #"Cu"^(+)"# and #"Cu"^(2+)"# ions.

Alkali Metal Sodium and Nonmetal Chlorine

http://cnx.org/contents/9e56ee2c-0f9c-4266-8197-fff3de034aa8@4.3:5/Chemistry-Grade-10-[CAPS]

Alkaline Earth Metal Magnesium and Nonmetal Oxygen

http://cnx.org/contents/9e56ee2c-0f9c-4266-8197-fff3de034aa8@4.3:5/Chemistry-Grade-10-[CAPS]

Aluminum and Oxygen

Related questions
See all questions in Metals and Nonmetals
Impact of this question
6897 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License