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Anions
Charges and Names
Next let's deal with the nonmetals. They tend to gain electrons.
| The halogens - fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine - have a strong
attraction for electrons. Their outermost energy levels are almost full. There is only
room for one more electron in the outer energy levels for each of those atoms.
Consequently, the elements fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine will gain one electron,
and become anions with a negative one charge. Oxygen, sulfur, and the other elements in that family will gain
two electrons.
In the next group over, nitrogen, phosphorus and arsenic can take on three electrons. |
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We can talk about carbon gaining four electrons to become a carbide ion but it does not
have a strong enough attraction for electrons to actually do that.
Hydrogen will sometimes gain one electron to become a hydride ion with a negative one
charge.
Practice with Charges of Anions
Take time now to get some practice with anions by working on the following exercise
(also shown in your workbook in exercise 7). Check your answers on the following page or
with the instructor.
| Nonmetal |
Anion
Formula |
| N |
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| O |
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| S |
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| Cl |
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| Br |
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Answers
| Nonmetal |
Anion
Formula |
| N |
N3- |
| O |
O2- |
| S |
S2- |
| Cl |
Cl- |
| Br |
Br- |
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E-mail instructor:
Eden Francis
Clackamas Community College
©1998, 2002 Clackamas Community College, Hal Bender
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