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Chapter 7: Problem 57

Discussing this chapter, a classmate says, "An element that commonly forms a cation is a metal." Do you agree or disagree?

Short Answer

Expert verified
I agree with the statement "An element that commonly forms a cation is a metal." This is because metals, which are found on the left side of the periodic table, have a tendency to lose their valence electrons, resulting in a positive charge and forming cations. Examples of metals that form cations include sodium (Na), which becomes a sodium cation (Na+) when it loses its valence electron.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Cations

A cation is a positively charged ion, formed when an atom loses one or more of its valence electrons. This loss of electrons results in a positive charge, which is why the ion is called a cation.
02

Properties of Metals

Metals are elements that tend to be shiny, malleable, ductile, and good conductors of electricity. They are found on the left side of the periodic table and include elements such as sodium, magnesium, aluminum, and iron. One of the most important properties of metals is that they have a tendency to lose electrons from their outermost energy level, known as valence electrons.
03

Metal Elements and Cations

Since metals typically lose electrons from their valence shells, they often form positive ions, or cations. This is because when a metal loses one or more of its valence electrons, the number of protons in the nucleus (which are positively charged) becomes greater than the number of electrons left surrounding the atom (which are negatively charged). As a result, the ion becomes positively charged. For example, consider sodium (Na). Sodium has one valence electron that it can readily lose. When it loses this electron, the sodium atom becomes a sodium cation (Na+), with a positive charge.
04

Agree or Disagree?

Based on our understanding of cations and the properties of metals, we can agree with the statement that "An element that commonly forms a cation is a metal." This is because metals tend to lose their valence electrons, giving them a positive charge and turning them into cations.

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