1. Iron can form ions with different charges. Explain how this is possible.
2. Ions are often formed when two different elements interact with each other. Explain why this happens.
1. Fe can lose either two or three electrons to form iron(II) or iron(III).
2. One element loses electrons to form + ions; one element gains those electrons to form - ions.
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1. Iron can form ions with different charges because it has multiple oxidation states. An oxidation state is the hypothetical charge that an atom would have if the electron distribution in the compound is completely ionic. The different charges of iron ions are due to the varying number of electrons it gains or loses during chemical reactions.
To understand how iron can form ions with different charges, we need to consider its electron configuration. The electron configuration of iron (Fe) is [Ar] 3d^6 4s^2. In its neutral state, iron has 26 electrons, with two in the 4s orbital and six in the 3d orbital.
When iron loses two electrons, it forms a Fe2+ ion. In this case, the 4s electrons are lost first, leaving behind the electron configuration of [Ar] 3d^6. The loss of the 4s electrons results in a positive charge, as there are now more protons than electrons.
On the other hand, iron can also gain three electrons to form a Fe3+ ion. The additional three electrons fill up the 3d orbital completely, resulting in the electron configuration of [Ar] 3d^5. This gain of electrons creates a negative charge, as there are now more electrons than protons.
The ability of iron to change its oxidation state and form ions with different charges allows it to participate in various chemical reactions and form different compounds with other elements.
2. Ions are often formed when two different elements interact with each other due to their differences in electronegativity and ability to gain or lose electrons. Electronegativity is the measure of an atom's ability to attract electrons towards itself in a chemical bond.
When two different elements come together, one element may have a higher electronegativity than the other. This means that it has a stronger pull on electrons, causing it to gain one or more electrons from the other element. The element that loses electrons becomes positively charged and forms a positive ion (cation). The element that gains electrons becomes negatively charged and forms a negative ion (anion).
For example, let's consider the reaction between sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl). Sodium has a lower electronegativity than chlorine, so when they react, sodium tends to lose one electron, while chlorine tends to gain one electron. This transfer of electrons results in the formation of sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-). These ions have opposite charges and attract each other, forming an ionic bond.
In summary, the formation of ions when two different elements interact is driven by the differences in electronegativity and the tendency of certain elements to gain or lose electrons. This process helps achieve a more stable electron configuration for each element involved in the chemical reaction.