AQA · GCSE · Chemistry
Course version: 8462 · Version from Sept 2018
The charge on the ions produced by metals in Groups 1 and 2 and by…
Full specification wording
Ionic bonding: The charge on the ions produced by metals in Groups 1 and 2 and by non-metals in Groups 6 and 7 relates to the group number of the element in the periodic table.
Atoms gain or lose electrons to reach a stable noble gas arrangement.
Checked against the AQA 8462 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 6 of 7
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Atoms gain or lose electrons to reach a stable noble gas arrangement. Metals in Group 1 lose one electron, giving ions with a 1⁺ charge, such as Na⁺. Metals in Group 2 lose two electrons, giving ions with a 2⁺ charge, such as Mg²⁺. Non-metals in Group 6 gain two electrons, giving ions with a 2⁻ charge, such as O²⁻. Non-metals in Group 7 gain one electron, giving ions with a 1⁻ charge, such as Cl⁻. The size of the charge equals the number of electrons gained or lost, and the sign shows whether electrons were lost (positive) or gained (negative). The group number therefore predicts the charge: Group 1 gives 1⁺, Group 2 gives 2⁺, Group 6 gives 2⁻ and Group 7 gives 1⁻.
What earns the marks
- Group 1 metals lose one electron and form ions with a 1⁺ charge, for example Na⁺ and K⁺.
- Group 2 metals lose two electrons and form ions with a 2⁺ charge, for example Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺.
- Group 6 non-metals gain two electrons and form ions with a 2⁻ charge, for example O²⁻ and S²⁻.
- Group 7 non-metals gain one electron and form ions with a 1⁻ charge, for example Cl⁻ and Br⁻.
- The charge is determined by the number of electrons gained or lost to reach a stable noble gas electron arrangement.
- The sign of the charge shows loss of electrons (positive) or gain of electrons (negative).
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Writing the charge after the symbol without a superscript sign, for example Na1⁺ instead of Na⁺.
Put it right: The charge belongs as a superscript sign after the symbol.
Assuming all metal ions have a 1⁺ charge.
Put it right: Group 2 metals such as magnesium form 2⁺ ions because they lose two electrons.
Giving Group 6 non-metals a 6⁻ charge by copying the group number directly.
Put it right: They gain two electrons, so the charge is 2⁻.
Exam tips
- Link each group to the number of electrons gained or lost before writing the charge.
- Check that the total positive charge balances the total negative charge when writing a formula.
- Practise writing ions for the first four elements of each named group so the pattern becomes automatic.
Try the lesson
The start of the Ionic bonding: The charge on the ions produced by metals in Groups 1 and 2 and by non-metals in Groups 6 and 7 relates to the group number of the element in the periodic table. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Potassium is a metal in Group 1 of the periodic table. What is the charge on the ion that potassium forms?
Listen
Atoms gain or lose electrons to reach a stable noble gas arrangement. Metals in Group 1 lose one electron, giving ions with a 1⁺ charge, such as Na⁺. Metals in Group 2 lose two electrons, giving ions with a 2⁺ charge, such as Mg²⁺. Non-metals in Group 6 gain two electrons, giving ions with a 2⁻ charge, such as O²⁻. Non-metals in Group 7 gain one electron, giving ions with a 1⁻ charge, such as Cl⁻. The size of the charge equals the number of electrons gained or lost, and the sign shows whether electrons were lost (positive) or gained (negative). The group number therefore predicts the charge: Group 1 gives 1⁺, Group 2 gives 2⁺, Group 6 gives 2⁻ and Group 7 gives 1⁻. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Group 1 metals lose one electron and form ions with a 1⁺ charge, for example Na⁺ and K⁺. Group 2 metals lose two electrons and form ions with a 2⁺ charge, for example Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺. Group 6 non-metals gain two electrons and form ions with a 2⁻ charge, for example O²⁻ and S²⁻. Group 7 non-metals gain one electron and form ions with a 1⁻ charge, for example Cl⁻ and Br⁻. Exam tip: Link each group to the number of electrons gained or lost before writing the charge.
See it
Key words
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Group 1 metals
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Group 2 metals
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Group 6 non-metals
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Group 7 non-metals
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See every definition
- Group 1 metals
- Lose one electron, giving ions with a 1⁺ charge, such as Na⁺.
- Group 2 metals
- Lose two electrons, giving ions with a 2⁺ charge, such as Mg²⁺.
- Group 6 non-metals
- Gain two electrons, giving ions with a 2⁻ charge, such as O²⁻.
- Group 7 non-metals
- Gain one electron, giving ions with a 1⁻ charge, such as Cl⁻.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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