Question

What can be said about the electron configurations of the alkali metal cations you studied compared to the noble gases and what can be said about the electron configuration of the halide anions you studied compared to the noble gases?

Do your answers support the idea of the octet rule? Explain.

Answer 1

The alkali metals have 1 electron in their outside shell. When they lose that electron they become the +1 charged ion, M^+. The halides have 7 electrons in their outside shell and they need 1 to become the X^- ion. Thus the electron configuration for M^+ and the X^- match the electron configuration for the noble gases.