Calcium has an atomic number of 20. How many electrons does calcium lose when forming an ionic bond with another ion?

1 Answer
BRIAN M.
Jun 22, 2016

Calcium loses two electrons to become #Ca^(+2)#

Explanation:

Calcium has an atomic number of 20 which means it would have 20 protons and 20 electrons in a neutral state as an atom.

The electron configuration for Calcium would be

# Ca = 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 4s^2#

In order to follow the Rule of Octet the Calcium atom will release the two electrons from the #4s# orbital and become

# Ca^(+2) = 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6#

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