Question

When an atom of iron loses all of its 4s electrons and one of its 3d electrons, what is its charge?
A. 52
B. 7+
C. 3+
D. 5+

Answer 1

answers.com says

it does mean that it has a full valence shell. It naturally does not have a full valence shell, which is why it is reactive. Gases like helium are not reactive with fire or anything because they already have full valence shells. You see, it naturally has 2 too many electrons. When it loses these, which have a negative charge, they then get positive charges. Wwhen they lose the two that they don't need, to get a full valence shell, then they have 2+.

Answer 2

Would it be C then? I'm kinda clueless on this question..
@micahm

Answer 3

what grade and lesson is this

Answer 4

Chemistry class

Answer 5

grade

Answer 6

There's really not a grade, I'm in the Pennfoster program, this is my elective class. I'm technically a senior there.

Answer 7

@Compassionate

Answer 8

you need to find the electron configuration of a neutral Fe atom, then take away the electrons it tells you are lost, and figure out the charge from there

Answer 9

@micahm I don't know where you got that first answer from, but it makes no sense

Answer 10

answers.com

Answer 11

@JFraser would it be C? or can I automatically rule that one out?

Answer 12

which is why cutting and pasting is terrible. you didn't answer the question that was asked

Answer 13

it is C

Answer 14

Okay thank you, that was my first thought..

Answer 15

The electron configuration of iron is:\[1s^2 \space 2s^2 \space 2p^6 \space 3s^2 \space 3p^6 \space 4s^2 \space 3d^6\]

Answer 16

if it loses "all" the 4s, and one of the 3d, that's 3 electrons total

Answer 17

Ohh, okay, thank you. That makes sense.

Answer 18

if you can remember the filling order for electrons, it actually explains a whole bunch of different properties, charges, and patterns on the periodic table

Answer 19

Ahhh, okay, I gotcha.