When forming a bond, an atom that has 3 electrons in its second shell and a filled first shell will
A)lose 3 electrons from its second shell.
B)lose all of the electrons from its first shell.
C)lose all of the electrons from both its first and second shells.
D)gain 5 electrons in its second shell.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An atom with 3 electrons in its second shell and a filled first shell (which means it has 2 electrons in the first shell, for a total of 5 electrons) will tend to lose the 3 electrons in its second shell to achieve a stable electron configuration, similar to the nearest noble gas. This is because it is energetically more favorable for the atom to lose a few electrons to achieve a full outer shell than to gain a larger number of electrons.

When Forming a Bond, an Atom That Has 3 Electrons