Question

bonding basics - ionic bonds
name
complete the chart for each element.
element # of protons # of electrons # of valence electrons oxidation number
sodium
chlorine
beryllium
fluorine
lithium
oxygen
phosphorus

Answer:

To solve this, we use the following concepts:

• The number of protons in an element is equal to its atomic number.
• In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons.
• Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell. For main - group elements (Groups 1, 2, 13 - 18), the number of valence electrons can be determined by the group number.
• The oxidation number for main - group elements is related to the number of electrons lost or gained to achieve a stable electron configuration (usually a full outer shell of 8 electrons, or 2 for the first shell).

Sodium (Na)

• Step 1: Number of Protons

The atomic number of sodium is 11. So, the number of protons $= 11$.

• Step 2: Number of Electrons

In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. So, the number of electrons $= 11$.

• Step 3: Number of Valence Electrons

Sodium is in Group 1 of the periodic table. So, the number of valence electrons $= 1$.

• Step 4: Oxidation Number

Sodium tends to lose 1 electron to achieve a stable electron configuration. So, the oxidation number $= + 1$.

Chlorine (Cl)

• Step 1: Number of Protons

The atomic number of chlorine is 17. So, the number of protons $= 17$.

• Step 2: Number of Electrons

In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. So, the number of electrons $= 17$.

• Step 3: Number of Valence Electrons

Chlorine is in Group 17 (or 7A) of the periodic table. So, the number of valence electrons $= 7$.

• Step 4: Oxidation Number

Chlorine tends to gain 1 electron to achieve a stable electron configuration. So, the oxidation number $= - 1$.

Beryllium (Be)

• Step 1: Number of Protons

The atomic number of beryllium is 4. So, the number of protons $= 4$.

• Step 2: Number of Electrons

In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. So, the number of electrons $= 4$.

• Step 3: Number of Valence Electrons

Beryllium is in Group 2 of the periodic table. So, the number of valence electrons $= 2$.

• Step 4: Oxidation Number

Beryllium tends to lose 2 electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. So, the oxidation number $= + 2$.

Fluorine (F)

• Step 1: Number of Protons

The atomic number of fluorine is 9. So, the number of protons $= 9$.

• Step 2: Number of Electrons

In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. So, the number of electrons $= 9$.

• Step 3: Number of Valence Electrons

Fluorine is in Group 17 (or 7A) of the periodic table. So, the number of valence electrons $= 7$.

• Step 4: Oxidation Number

Fluorine tends to gain 1 electron to achieve a stable electron configuration. So, the oxidation number $= - 1$.

Lithium (Li)

• Step 1: Number of Protons

The atomic number of lithium is 3. So, the number of protons $= 3$.

• Step 2: Number of Electrons

In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. So, the number of electrons $= 3$.

• Step 3: Number of Valence Electrons

Lithium is in Group 1 of the periodic table. So, the number of valence electrons $= 1$.

• Step 4: Oxidation Number

Lithium tends to lose 1 electron to achieve a stable electron configuration. So, the oxidation number $= + 1$.

Oxygen (O)

• Step 1: Number of Protons

The atomic number of oxygen is 8. So, the number of protons $= 8$.

• Step 2: Number of Electrons

In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. So, the number of electrons $= 8$.

• Step 3: Number of Valence Electrons

Oxygen is in Group 16 (or 6A) of the periodic table. So, the number of valence electrons $= 6$.

• Step 4: Oxidation Number

Oxygen tends to gain 2 electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. So, the oxidation number $= - 2$.

Phosphorus (P)

• Step 1: Number of Protons

The atomic number of phosphorus is 15. So, the number of protons $= 15$.

• Step 2: Number of Electrons

In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. So, the number of electrons $= 15$.

• Step 3: Number of Valence Electrons

Phosphorus is in Group 15 (or 5A) of the periodic table. So, the number of valence electrons $= 5$.

• Step 4: Oxidation Number

Phosphorus can have multiple oxidation numbers, but a common one (when forming ionic compounds by gaining 3 electrons to achieve a stable octet) is $- 3$. It can also have positive oxidation numbers in some compounds (e.g., $+ 5$ in $P_2O_5$), but for the basic ionic bonding context, $- 3$ is a common oxidation number.

We can now fill the chart:

Element	# of Protons	# of Electrons	# of Valence Electrons	Oxidation Number
Chlorine	17	17	7	$- 1$
Beryllium	4	4	2	$+ 2$
Fluorine	9	9	7	$- 1$
Lithium	3	3	1	$+ 1$
Oxygen	8	8	6	$- 2$
Phosphorus	15	15	5	$- 3$ (or $+ 5$ etc.)

If we were to present the answers for each element in the order asked (filling the chart values):

For Sodium:

• # of Protons: $11$
• # of Electrons: $11$
• # of Valence Electrons: $1$
• Oxidation Number: $+ 1$

For Chlorine:

• # of Protons: $17$
• # of Electrons: $17$
• # of Valence Electrons: $7$
• Oxidation Number: $- 1$

For Beryllium:

• # of Protons: $4$
• # of Electrons: $4$
• # of Valence Electrons: $2$
• Oxidation Number: $+ 2$

For Fluorine:

• # of Protons: $9$
• # of Electrons: $9$
• # of Valence Electrons: $7$
• Oxidation Number: $- 1$

For Lithium:

• # of Protons: $3$
• # of Electrons: $3$
• # of Valence Electrons: $1$
• Oxidation Number: $+ 1$

For Oxygen:

• # of Protons: $8$
• # of Electrons: $8$
• # of Valence Electrons: $6$
• Oxidation Number: $- 2$

For Phosphorus:

• # of Protons: $15$
• # of Electrons: $15$
• # of Valence Electrons: $5$
• Oxidation Number: $- 3$ (or other common ones like $+ 5$)

If you want the answers in a specific format (e.g., for each element's values), you can extract them from the above. For example, if we list the answers for each column and row:

• Sodium: Protons = 11, Electrons = 11, Valence Electrons = 1, Oxidation Number = +1
• Chlorine: Protons = 17, Electrons = 17, Valence Electrons = 7, Oxidation Number = -1
• Beryllium: Protons = 4, Electrons = 4, Valence Electrons = 2, Oxidation Number = +2
• Fluorine: Protons = 9, Electrons = 9, Valence Electrons = 7, Oxidation Number = -1
• Lithium: Protons = 3, Electrons = 3, Valence Electrons = 1, Oxidation Number = +1
• Oxygen: Protons = 8, Electrons = 8, Valence Electrons = 6, Oxidation Number = -2
• Phosphorus: Protons = 15, Electrons = 15, Valence Electrons = 5, Oxidation Number = -3 (or +5)

The final answers (filling the chart) are as presented in the table above.