What is the charge on the most stable ion of each of the
following elements?
K, I, Mg, O, Al, N, Ba, S
Match these elements with the correct charge below.
Answer
General guidance
All the elemental atoms in periodic table have a stable ionic form in which they usually exist while compound formation. For example, alkali metals have a tendency to lose an electron in order to form a monovalent cation.
The nature of charge obtained by an atom depends on many factors including size, electronegativity etc.
Step-by-step
Step 1 of 8
Part 1
The potassium belongs to alkali metals group in periodic table. The charge on the most stable ion of potassium 
is 
.
The charge on the most stable ion of 
is 
.
Alkali metals have a tendency to lose an electron in order to form a monovalent cation.
Step 2 of 8
Part 2
Iodine belongs to the halogen group in the periodic table. The most stable ion of iodine 
possesses 
charge.
The charge on the most stable ion of I is 
.
Halogen are the highest electronegative elements in the periodic table and can keep an extra electron in order to obtain a monovalent anion.
Step 3 of 8
Part 3
Magnesium is an alkali earth metal. The most stable ionic form of magnesium 
has 
charge.
The charge on the most stable ion of Mg is 
.
Alkali earth metals lose two electrons in order to achieve the divalent character.
Step 4 of 8
Part 4
Oxygen comes in the category of group 16 elements. The most stable ion of oxygen
possesses 
charge.
The charge on the most stable ion of O is 
.
Group 16 elements usually gain two electrons in order to achieve the divalent anionic character.
Step 5 of 8
Part 5
Aluminum belongs to the group 13 of the periodic table. Aluminum 
exists in cationic form and the charge of the ion is 
.
The charge on the most stable ion of Al is 
.
Group 13 elements often exist as Lewis acid and some elements of this group lose three electrons in order to obtain trivalent cationic form.
Step 6 of 8
Part 6
Nitrogen 
belongs to the group 15 elements. Nitrogen gives 
charge in the most stable anionic form.
The charge on the most stable ion of N is 
.
Group 15 elements includes some non-metallic and some metalloids which can gain three electrons and give tri valent anionic form.
Step 7 of 8
Part 7
Barium belongs to the alkaline earth metals in the periodic table. The most stable ion of barium 
has +2 charges.
The charge on the most stable ion of Ba is 
.
Alkali earth metals lose two electrons in order to achieve the divalent character.
Step 8 of 8
Part 8
Sulphur comes in the category of group 16 elements. The most stable ion of sulfur 
possesses charge.
The charge on the most stable ion of S is 
.
Group 16 elements usually gain two electrons in order to achieve the divalent anionic character.
Answer
The charge on the most stable ion of is .
The charge on the most stable ion of I is .
The charge on the most stable ion of Mg is .
The charge on the most stable ion of O is .
The charge on the most stable ion of Al is .
The charge on the most stable ion of N is .
The charge on the most stable ion of Ba is .
The charge on the most stable ion of S is .
Answer only
The charge on the most stable ion of is .
The charge on the most stable ion of I is .
The charge on the most stable ion of Mg is .
The charge on the most stable ion of O is .
The charge on the most stable ion of Al is .
The charge on the most stable ion of N is .
The charge on the most stable ion of Ba is .
The charge on the most stable ion of S is .