When forming ions, does calcium (Ca) lose or gain electrons?

• A. Calcium neither loses nor gains electrons.
• B. Calcium shares electrons to form a neutral ion.
• C. Calcium gains electrons to form an anion.
• D. Calcium loses electrons to form a cation.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that calcium (Ca) is an element in Group 2 of the periodic table, also known as the alkaline earth metals.
2. Elements in Group 2 typically have two electrons in their outermost shell (valence electrons).
3. When forming ions, these elements tend to lose their valence electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration similar to the nearest noble gas.
4. Losing two electrons results in a positively charged ion (cation) with a charge of +2, written as Ca^{2+}.
5. Therefore, calcium loses electrons to form a cation rather than gaining electrons or sharing them.