2006-06-17 07:54:35 · 2 answers · asked by diamonddutches06 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
Atoms become more stable with a full valence shell of electrons (usually 8 electrons). Therefore, if an atom has 7 electrons, it is going to try to gain 1 more electron to gain a full valence shell. Likewise, an atom with 1 electron on it's outer shell is likely to lose that electron, since the shell beneath it is full. Since these atoms are losing or gaining electrons, they give themselves a positive or negative charge as a result and become ions.
The transition metals are a completely different story however, because these deal more with the d-orbitals rather than just the s- and p-orbitals.
2006-06-17 08:00:50 · answer #1 · answered by Steven B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atoms, normally neutral, become ions when they lose or gain electrons.
2006-06-17 07:58:50 · answer #2 · answered by Don E 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋