According to the octet rule a calcium atom has a tendecy to.?
Look at Ca on the periodic table. It is in group 2 (or IIA depending upon the system your teacher is using). That tells you that it has two electrons in its outer shell and that means it will lose those two electrons when forming compounds. That leaves its next to outer shell now full with eight electrons. (Note that it is easier to lose two electrons than to gain six).
B. LOSE TWO ELECTRONS
ACCORDING TO THE OCTET RULE, CALCIUM HAS THE TENDENCY TO DO
A. LOSE ONE ELECTRON
B. LOSE TWO ELECTRONS
C. GAIN ONE ELECTRON
D. GAIN TWO ELECTRONS
LOSE ONE ELECTRON
According to the octet rule, a calcium atom has a tendency to lose two electrons. The octet rule states that atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons in order to achieve a stable electron configuration, similar to the noble gases.
To determine this, you can look at the periodic table and identify the group or column that the element belongs to. Calcium (Ca) is in group 2, also known as Group IIA. Group 2 elements typically have two electrons in their outermost shell. In order to achieve a stable electron configuration, calcium tends to lose these two electrons.
By losing these two electrons, calcium becomes a cation with a positive charge of +2. This loss of electrons allows calcium to attain a stable electron configuration similar to the noble gas argon, which has a complete outer shell of eight electrons.
It's important to note that the octet rule is a simplified guideline and may not apply to all elements, particularly those beyond the second period of the periodic table. However, it is still useful for understanding the general tendency of atoms to gain or lose electrons.