Question

Give reason: metal forms a positive ion.

Answer 1

Hint: To determine whether the metal will form a positive ion or a negative ion, we will write the configuration through which we can easily assume the tendency of the metal. Also, we have to study the properties of metals.


Complete Step-By-Step Answer:
- In the given question, we have to explain the reason behind the formation of positive ions by metal.
- As we know that metals are those species which are good conductors of heat as well as electricity and also, they are considered as electropositive.
- Electropositive elements are those elements which can easily lose the electrons from the outermost shell and gain positive charge.
- In metals, the outermost electron is weakly attracted to the nucleus due to which the energy required to remove the electron is very less.
- Also, we can observe in most of the metals the outermost shell or the valence shell consist of 1, 2 and 3 electrons such as sodium.
- In sodium, the valence shell consists of 1 electron only which is loosely bound and can be removed easily to gain the positive charge and the stable electronic configuration.
- The sodium metal will have electronic configuration as shown: $\text{1}{{\text{s}}^{2}}\text{ 2}{{\text{s}}^{2}}\text{ 2}{{\text{p}}^{6}}\text{ 3}{{\text{s}}^{1}}$.


- Therefore, they can easily lose the electron and donate to the binding atom.


Note: In the periodic table, the metals include a large number of elements such as alkali metals, transition metals, lanthanides, actinides and alkali earth metals. Whereas non - metals are present in the upper right-hand side of the periodic table.