Question #2c09c

1 Answer
Sep 25, 2015

The number of valence electrons will determine the number of ions that one ion needs to combine with to form a neutral ionic compound.

Explanation:

The number of valence electrons will determine the number of ions that one ion needs to combine with to form a neutral ionic compound.

For example, Aluminum #Al# has three valence electrons to lose to form #Al^(3+)#.

Chlorine #Cl# has 7 valence electrons, and it can gain one more electron to obey the octet rule and it will form #Cl^-#.

To form a neutral ionic compound, one ion #Al^(3+)# will combine with three ions #Cl^-# to form aluminum chloride #AlCl_3#