What is the charge that results when oxygen becomes an ion?

1 Answer
mason m
Dec 14, 2015

#-2#

Explanation:

Oxygen has #6# valence electrons. To fill up the valence shell, which (when in oxygen's row) has #8# electrons, an oxygen atom wants to gain #2# electrons.

Since every electron has a single negative charge, the addition of two electrons results in an oxygen ion with a charge of #-2#.

This is true of every other element located beneath oxygen on the periodic table (the oxygen family, or the chalcogens).

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