Nonmetals tend to form what ions?
1 Answer
Jan 13, 2017
Negative ions with a charge equal to the number of electrons required to complete their octet of valence electrons.
Explanation:
Non-metals are generally elements having four or more valence electrons, together with a high electron affinity (the amount of energy released when the atom gains an electron).
As a result, they tend to take place in reactions that make it possible for these atoms to acquire one or more electrons. The high electron affinity persists until the valence shell is full.
So, elements in column 17 (halogens) form ions of charge -1.
Elements in column 16 form -2 ions
Elements in column 15 that are non-metals (not all of them are!) form -3 ions.
