How can we know the combining capacity by looking at a periodic table with only atomic number,masson it???

Question

or do we have to memorize the combining capacity of elements???

please help

test tomorrow!!!!

Answer 1

like the top contributor said, look at the groups, and the first group,(column 1) will have a 1+ charge, 2nd group will have a 2+ charge. it continues like this, except the 7th group will have a 1- charge, and group 6 will have -2 charge. but as the other man said, it does vary from element to element.

Answer 2

If you're looking at Group I: H Li Na K Rb Cs; or Group II: Be Mg Ca Sr Ba, then the first group is always +1 and the second group +2. Otherwise, you have to memorize. The periodic table can be a good guide to memorization, but every element is individual. Many elements have multiple valences (combining capacities).