Question

In a chemical compound, would you expect an oxide ion to be joined with one atom of calcium or one atom of potassium? Why?

Answer 1

I know what you're asking but I don't think the question is stated properly. Technically, an atom will not join with an "oxide" ion; i.e., the oxide ion is an atom of oxygen to which two electrons have been added. An oxide ion will add to 2 K ions or 1 Ca ion. The K ion has lost just one electron so it takes two of them to equal the 2- charge on the oxide ion whereas the Ca ion has lost two electrons and it takes only one of them to equal the charge on the oxide ion.