Why do metals typically form positively-charged ions?

1 Answer
anor277
Aug 1, 2017

Why? Well metals are in general "reducing agents....."

Explanation:

Why? Well metals are in general "reducing agents....." That is metals are electron-rich species, and undergo the following oxidation reaction....

M rarr M^(2+) + 2e^(-)

On the other hand, non-metals, have high nuclear charge, and tend to accept electron-density, i.e. they are "oxidizing agents...." The strongest oxidizing agents come from the right hand side of the Periodic Table, where the nuclear charge is HIGH, and the tendency to be reduced is marked.

1/2O_2 + 2H^+ + 2e^(-) rarr H_2O(l) ;E^@=1.229*V

1/2F_2 + e^(-) rarr F^(-) ;E^@=2.87*V

Given the positions of oxygen and fluorine on the Periodic Table (to the right as we face it!), it is thus no coincidence that these elements are potent oxidizing agents.

Related questions
See all questions in Oxidation and Reduction Reactions
Impact of this question
2865 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License