Why is the structure of a metal stable? Illustrate your answer using the example of aluminium and its electron configuration.

1 Answer
Meave60
May 19, 2018

Most metals are not stable and exist combined with other elements to make metal ores.

Explanation:

Aluminum electron configuration:

#"1s"^2"2s"^2"2p"^6"3s"^2"3p"^1"#

An aluminum atom has three valence electrons in the third energy level #"3s"# and #"3p"# sublevels. Most atoms require #8# valence electrons in order to be stable. Metal atoms that have #3# or fewer valence electrons tend to lose electrons to form cations.

In the case of aluminum atoms, they lose their #3# valence electrons to a nonmetal anion or a polyatomic anion. This results in an aluminum cation with a #3^(+)# charge, and a full valence shell in the second energy level #"s"# and #"p"# sublevels.

#"Al"^(3+)"# electron configuration:

#"1s"^2"2s"^2"2p"^6"#

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