ELECTRON CONFIGS & OXIDATION STATES

VALENCE ELECTRONS

Recall …

Electrons in the outermost principal energy level (the Valence Shell) are called VALENCE ELECTRONS

As we move from left to right we add one electron at a time

To the outermost Principal energy level – the Valence shell

1
VALENCE ELECTRON TRENDS

1. As you go down a group the number of electrons in the valence shell stays the same
2. As you go across a period (left to right) the # of e - in the valence shell of the main group elements
increases one by one

- This ignores the transition metals

(d orbitals are filling in n-1)

IONS

Recall that the electron configuration of the noble gases

Is the extremely stable electron configuration
It’s Known as the OCTET

Argon’s config is 2-8-8

Potassium’s is 2-8-8-1 (why this config and not 2-8-9?)

By losing 1 electron the electron config of the potassium Ion (K+) becomes the same as Argon’s (2-8-8)

The Octet Configuration

2
LEWIS DOT STRUCTURES OF IONS

Na is an S block element while bromine is a P block element

S block elements (metals) form pos. ions by losing e-

P block ions (the non-metals) form neg. ions by gaining e-.

3
EFFECTIVE NUCLEAR CHARGE

Whether an atom gains or loses electrons will depend upon the Effective Nuclear Charge.
For example K loses 1 e- and Cl gains 1 e-

4
OXIDATION NUMBERS

An oxidation number represents the number of electrons an atom will typically gain or lose to achieve the
octet.

For example:
The oxidation number of Sodium is +1
The oxidation number of Oxygen is -2

Some Atoms can have more than one oxidation number

Open up your reference tables and look at the oxidation numbers.

Oxidation numbers are located in the upper right.
Check out various metal and non-metal oxidation nos.

CHEMICAL BONDS

Atom – the smallest unit of matter “indivisible”

ELECTRON SHELLS

a) Atomic number = number of Electrons

b) Electrons vary in the amount of energy they possess, and they occur at certain energy levels or
electron shells.
c) Electron shells determine how an atom behaves when it encounters other atoms

5
ELECTRONS ARE PLACED IN SHELLS ACCORDING TO RULES:

1) The 1st shell can hold up to two electrons, and each shell thereafter can hold up to 8 electrons.

WHY ARE ELECTRONS IMPORTANT?

1) Elements have different electron configurations

 different electron configurations mean different levels of bonding

6
Chemical bonds: an attempt to fill electron s

1. Ionic bonds –
2. Covalent bonds –
3. Metallic bonds

7
IONIC BOND - bond formed between two ions by the transfer of electrons

8
9
10
IONIC BOND
• Between atoms of metals and nonmetals with very different electronegativity
• Bond formed by transfer of electrons
• Produce charged ions all states. Conductors and have high melting point.
• Examples: NaCl, CaCl2, K2O

IONIC BONDS: One Big Greedy Thief Dog!

11
IONIC BONDING

COVALENT BOND - bond formed by the sharing of electrons

COVALENT BOND
• Between nonmetallic elements of similar electronegativity.
• Formed by sharing electron pairs
• Stable non-ionizing particles, they are not conductors at any state
• Examples: O2, CO2, C2H6, H2O, SiC

12
Bonds in all the polyatomic ions and diatomics are all covalent bonds

NONPOLAR COVALENT BONDS - when electrons are shared equally

H2 or Cl2

POLAR COVALENT BONDS - when electrons are shared but shared unequally

H 2O

POLAR COVALENT BONDS: Unevenly matched, but willing to share

POLAR COVALENT BONDING

13
METALLIC BOND - bond found in metals; holds metal atoms together very strongly

METALLIC BOND
• Formed between atoms of metallic elements
• Electron cloud around atoms
• Good conductors at all states, lustrous, very high melting points
• Examples; Na, Fe, Al, Au, Co

METALLIC BONDS: Mellow dogs with plenty of bones to go around.

METALLIC BONDING

Metals do not combine with metals. They form Alloys which is a solution of a metal in a metal.
Examples are steel, brass, bronze and pewter.

14
FORMULA WEIGHTS
• Formula weight is the sum of the atomic masses.
• Example- CO2
• Mass, C + O + O
12.011 + 15.994 + 15.994
43.999

Practice
• Compute the mass of the following compounds round to nearest tenth & state type of bond:
• NaCl;
• 23 + 35 = 58; Ionic Bond
• C2H6;
• 24 + 6 = 30; Covalent Bond
• Na(CO3)2;
• 23 + 2(12 + 3x16) = 123; Ionic & Covalent

15