Making Ions Activity
Put all answers in your notebook.
Pre-Lab Questions
1. Define ion: _________________________________________________________________________
2. All atoms want a full valence electron shell. The octet rule states that almost every atoms has a full valence shell when it has
_____ electrons in it valence shell. Hydrogen and helium follow the duet rule which states that they have a full valence shell
with ______ electrons in its valence shell.
3. Atoms will gain or lose electrons to obtain a full valence electron shell. If an atom __________ electrons, it will have a
positive charge. If an atom ___________ electrons, it will have a negative charge. Positive ions are called ___________
and negative ions are called ______________.
4. Define Valence Electrons: _________________________________________________________________.
Activity:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Use the ion activity mat to complete this table.
Use the Smarties candies to represent the electrons.
Complete the table, on the back of these instructions, as you go through the activity.
For each of the following elements so the following:
1. Find the number of protons and electrons for the atom. Record your answers.
2. Place the candy on the Ion activity mat to show the arrangement of the electrons in an atom.
3. Record the number of valence electrons
4. Will the atom gain or lose electron to get a full valence shell? Record your answer.
 5 or more valence electrons  atoms will gain electrons to get a full valence shell.
 Less than 5 valence electrons  atoms will lose electrons to get a full valence shell.
5. Remove or add candies to your atom to get a full valence shell.
6. Record the new number of Protons and electrons.
7. Write the ionic symbol of the atom. Example: I- or Sr2+
8. Is this ion a cation or an anion? Record your answer.
Conclusion Questions:
1. Why do atoms gain or lose electrons?
2. Why don’t noble gases form ions?
3. Explain what is happening in the following ions;
Sn4+
Hg2+
Mg2+
Name of
Atom
Oxygen
Aluminum
Sodium
Chlorine
Nitrogen
Lithium
Fluorine
Beryllium
Magnesium
Calcium
Phosphorus
Potassium
Boron
Hydrogen
Sulfur
# of p+
# of e-
Cs2+
# of
Valence
Electrons
Will the
atom
gain or
lose e-
Se2-
As3-
New #
of p+
New #
of e-
Cl-
Ionic
Symbol
Cation
or Anion