Use the periodic table to answer the question.

Question

periodic table

































A chemical reaction produces a molecule in which all of the atoms have a stable configuration. Which molecule could be the product of the reaction?

(1 point)
Responses

PH4
cap p cap h sub 4

SiO5
cap s i cap o sub 5

CaBr2
cap c A cap b r sub 2

NaCl2
cap n A cap c l sub 2
Skip to navigation

Answer 1

To determine which molecule has all atoms with a stable configuration (i.e., a filled outer electron shell), we need to consider the common oxidation states and stability of the elements involved in each molecule listed.

1. PH4 (Phosphine): Phosphorus typically needs 3 electrons to achieve a stable configuration, and when bonded with hydrogen, it does not achieve stability.

2. SiO5 (Silicon Pentoxide): Silicon typically forms compounds with a maximum of 4 bonds (like SiO2). SiO5 is highly unusual and likely unstable.

3. CaBr2 (Calcium Bromide): Calcium has 2 valence electrons and can easily lose those to achieve a stable configuration, while bromine can gain an electron to achieve stability. Thus, CaBr2 can be stable.

4. NaCl2: Sodium has 1 valence electron and forms NaCl (sodium chloride) with chlorine. NaCl2 suggests sodium loses an electron and gains two, which is not typical and thus unstable.

Considering the stability of the configurations:

• CaBr2 is the only molecule where both calcium and bromine achieve stable electron configurations.

The correct answer is CaBr2.