Question

Determine which of the following elements would lose electrons when becoming ions:

Answer 1

Answer:

I, III, and V  

Explanation:

All five options are correct.

However, your instructor is probably expecting the answer I, III, and V.

These three elements are on the left-hand side of the Periodic Table. Thus, they tend to lose electrons and form positive ions most easily.

H is the most reluctant to form a cation. Its first ionization energy is 1100 kJ·mol⁻¹.

However, F and He can lose electrons to form cations.

It takes only 1700 kJ·mol⁻¹ to remove an electron from F. However, F tends to add electrons to get a complete valence shell.

Even He, with a complete valence shell, will give up a valence electron for the expenditure of only 2400 kJ·mol⁻¹.