Would an atom of silicon form an ionic bond with an atom of helium? Why or Why not?
Yes
To determine whether an atom of silicon would form an ionic bond with an atom of helium, we need to understand the properties of each element and their likelihood to form ions.
Silicon (Si) is a member of the group 14 elements and typically forms covalent bonds. It has four valence electrons in its outermost energy level. Silicon atoms tend to share these electrons with other atoms to complete their valence shell, rather than gaining or losing electrons.
On the other hand, helium (He) belongs to the noble gas group (group 18) and is chemically inert due to its full valence shell of two electrons. Noble gases, including helium, are stable and generally do not form ions or participate in ionic bonding.
Ionic bonding occurs when one atom transfers electrons to another atom, resulting in the formation of oppositely charged ions that attract each other. Since both silicon and helium prefer to attain a stable configuration by either sharing or having a full valence shell, it is unlikely for an ionic bond to form between them.
In summary, an atom of silicon would not form an ionic bond with an atom of helium because their electron configurations and chemical properties do not favor the formation of ions or electron transfer.