Question

Of the following three atoms, one tends to lose three electrons, another tends to lose two electrons, and another tends to lose one electron. Rank these atoms in order of the number of electrons they tend to lose, from most to fewest: potassium, K; calcium, Ca; gallium, Ga. Rank from most to fewest.

Answer 1

Answer: Ga > Ca > K

Explanation:

Electronic configuration represents the total number of electrons that a neutral element contains. We add all the superscripts to know the number of electrons in an atom.

The electrons are filled according to Afbau's rule in order of increasing energies. The metals tend to get stable by losing electrons to attain noble gas configuration.

$K:19:1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^64s^1$

$K^+:18:1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^6$

$Ca:20:1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^64s^2$

$Ca^{2+}:18:1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^6$

$Ga:31:1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^64s^23d^{10}4s^24p^1$

$Ga^{3+}:28:1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^64s^23d^{10}$

Thus gallium (Ga) loses three electrons, Calcium (Ca) loses 2 electrons and Potassium (K) loses one electron.