If I were to explain to someone about how to find a charge of an element, would anyone agree with this:
The charge of an element is determined by the gain or lose of electrons. Depending on how close they are to the left/right side of the periodic table concludes their charge. For example, Calcium is 2 away from the left side, and it would take less energy to lose those 2 electrons than try to gain 6 more, so Calcium gets a -2 charge.
Part of what you say is right; part is not right. On the whole, you are wrong.
1. Elements are not charged. All elements have a zero charge.
2. Elements form ions and the charge on the ion is determined by its location in the periodic table.
3. Yes, it is easier for Ca to lose two electrons than to gain 6 so calcium gets a +2 charge (not -2)
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If you take your first sentence and substitute ion for the word element, that first sentence would be essentially correct.
On the calcium sentence, I would prefer you to say it is easier to lose those 2 etc instead of take less energy to lose....
Technically it takes energy (you're right on that) to pull that electron (or in the case of Ca those two electrons away) BUT when electrons are ADDED (for example to Cl or F or Br etc to form Cl^-, Br^-, I^- etc) energy is released.
Your explanation is mostly correct, but there are a few misconceptions that need to be clarified. The charge of an element is indeed determined by the gain or loss of electrons. However, it does not solely depend on the position of an element on the periodic table in terms of left or right side.
Elements in the periodic table are arranged in periods (rows) and groups (columns). The number of valence electrons, which are the electrons in the outermost energy level, is crucial in determining the element's charge.
Elements in the same group tend to have similar chemical properties because they have the same number of valence electrons. For example, Group 1 elements (such as sodium and potassium) have one valence electron and tend to lose that electron to achieve a noble gas configuration. When an element loses a valence electron, it becomes positively charged, forming a cation. So, sodium would have a +1 charge because it loses one electron.
On the other hand, Group 17 elements (such as fluorine and chlorine) have seven valence electrons. These elements tend to gain one electron to achieve a noble gas configuration. When an element gains a valence electron, it becomes negatively charged, forming an anion. For example, chlorine would have a -1 charge because it gains one electron.
However, determining the charges of elements in the middle of the periodic table can be more complex. For transition metals and elements in the "d-block," their charges can vary as they have multiple oxidation states, meaning they can gain or lose different numbers of electrons.
In summary, while the concept of gain or loss of electrons determining the charge of an element is correct, it is essential to consider the specific number of valence electrons and their behavior based on the element's position in the periodic table to determine the charge accurately.