which element is more likely to gain electrons Na, F, or Ne?
To determine which element is more likely to gain electrons among Na (sodium), F (fluorine), and Ne (neon), we need to consider their location in the periodic table and their electronegativity values.
Electronegativity is the measure of an element's ability to attract electrons towards itself when it participates in a chemical bond. Generally, elements on the right side of the periodic table (non-metals) tend to gain electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration, while elements on the left side (metals) tend to lose electrons to achieve stability.
In this case, Na is a metal, F is a non-metal, and Ne is a noble gas.
Since Na is a metal, it is more likely to lose electrons and become a positively charged ion (Na+). It only needs to lose one electron to have the same electron configuration as neon (Ne).
F, being a non-metal, has a high electronegativity, meaning it has a strong tendency to gain electrons. Fluorine only requires one more electron to fill its outermost energy level and achieve a stable electron configuration.
Ne, being a noble gas, has a fully filled outermost energy level and is already stable. Thus, it does not readily gain or lose electrons.
Therefore, among Na, F, and Ne, F (fluorine) is the most likely element to gain electrons.
To determine this, we used the periodic table and knowledge about the behavior of metals and non-metals regarding electron gain or loss.