What happens when Group 2A elements form ions?

Question

Naomi Aronson · Accepted Answer

They lose #2# electrons.

As you know, neutral atoms become ions by losing or by gaining electrons.

The number of valence electrons an atom has will determine whether or not it loses electrons to become a **positively charged ion, or cation, or gains electrons to become a *negatively charged ion, or anion.

In this case, elements located in group 2 will always lose electrons to become cations.

More specifically, they will always lose #2# electrons to form #2+# cations.

In the case of beryllium, which is located in group 2, period 1, losing #2# electrons allows it to have a stable duet configuration, i.e. #2# electrons in its outermost shell, or valence shell.

For the other elements, losing #2# electrons allows them to have a stable octet configuration, i.e. #8# electrons in their outermost shell.

Henry Antrim · Answer

undefined In order to reach a stable electron configuration, Group 2A elements must lose two electrons when forming ions, which leads to the formation of 2+ cations.