Question

How many valence electrons are transferred from the calcium atom to iodine in the formation of the compound calcium iodide?

Answer 1

2 valence electrons

Explanation:

Calcium iodide (`CaI_2`) is an ionic bond, which means that electrons are transferred.

In order for `Ca` to become the ion `Ca^(2+)`, the calcium atom must lose 2 electrons. (Electrons have a negative charge, so when an atom loses 2 electrons, its ion becomes more positive.)

In order for `I` to become the ion `I^(1-)`, the iodine atom must gain 1 electron. (When an atom gains an electron, its ion will be more negative.)

However, the formula for calcium iodide is `CaI_2` - there are 2 iodine ions present. This makes sense because the iodine ion has a charge of -1, so two iodine ions have to be present to cancel out the +2 charge of the calcium ion.

Therefore, the calcium atom transfers 2 valence electrons, one to each iodine atom, to form the ionic bond.