HELP!
The thing about electron and protons being equal. my friend just told me that Group VII has unequal because it has a -1 ion. Idk

Question

HELP!
The thing about electron and protons being equal. my friend just told me that Group VII has unequal because it has a -1 ion. Idk

anonymous · Answer

After an intense session with Batty Boffin. I've learned that Group VII are classed as Halogens. What is a Halogen? I don't know. However they all end in 7 with regards to their electron structures/arrangements. I'm looking at Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine and Iodine. Yes, their final shell is lacking 1 electron. Watch some of Batty Boffin's videos, she's absolutely magical. Enjoy.

australopithecus · Answer

It seems you are confused by chemistry in general, Halogens do not always have to have a charge of -1, it depends on their environment. Flourine has a neutral charge (a charge of 0) when it has 7 electrons because it has 7 protons. 

Flourine and other halogens form anions (with a charge of -1) because that way they have 8 electrons in their valence shells (they fulfill the octet rule).  This is because elements tend to want to be like the noble gases they are closest to. For example Chlorine wants to be like Argon so it will accept an electron in a ionic bond to have a charge of -1 and thus 8 electrons. Sodium will give up an electron in an ionic bond to have a charge of +1 so that it is more like neon.