Write the symbol for the ion of each of the following:
b. barium

Verified step by step guidance

1. Determine the group number of barium on the periodic table. Barium (Ba) is located in Group 2, which means it is an alkaline earth metal.
2. Recall that elements in Group 2 typically lose two electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration, resulting in a +2 charge.
3. Write the symbol for barium (Ba) and indicate the charge as a superscript. The ion formed by barium is Ba²⁺.
4. Verify the charge by considering the electron configuration. Barium has an atomic number of 56, so its neutral atom configuration is [Xe]6s². By losing two electrons, it achieves the stable configuration of [Xe].
5. Conclude that the symbol for the barium ion is Ba²⁺, representing a barium atom that has lost two electrons.

Key Concepts

Ionic Charge

Ionic charge refers to the electrical charge that an atom or molecule carries when it gains or loses electrons. For example, when an atom loses electrons, it becomes positively charged (cation), while gaining electrons results in a negative charge (anion). Understanding ionic charge is essential for determining the symbol of an ion.

Barium

Barium is a chemical element with the symbol 'Ba' and atomic number 56. It is an alkaline earth metal that typically forms a +2 charge when it becomes an ion, as it readily loses its two outermost electrons. Recognizing the properties of barium helps in identifying its ionic form.

Chemical Symbol Notation

Chemical symbol notation is a standardized way of representing elements and their ions using one or two letters. The first letter is always capitalized, and if there is a second letter, it is lowercase. For barium, the ion symbol is written as 'Ba²⁺', indicating its +2 charge.