An element with atomic number twelve is likely to be
An element with atomic number twelve is likely to be
- A) electrovalent with a valency of 1
- B) electrovalent with a valency of 2
- C) covalent with a valency 2
- D) covalent with a valency of 4
Correct Answer: B) electrovalent with a valency of 2
Explanation
The question is asking about an element with atomic number twelve and which type of bonding it is likely to have. The options are electrovalent with a valency of 1, electrovalent with a valency of 2 (which is the correct answer), covalent with a valency of 2, and covalent with a valency of 4.An element's atomic number is the number of protons in its nucleus. In this case, the element has 12 protons. The type of bonding an element will have depends on the number of valence electrons it has. Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom. When the outermost shell is filled, the element is stable and less likely to react with other elements.
An electrovalent or ionic bond is formed between a metal and a non-metal. The metal loses electrons to become a positively charged ion, while the non-metal gains electrons to become a negatively charged ion. The ions are then attracted to each other due to opposite charges.
Covalent bonding occurs between non-metals. In covalent bonding, the atoms share electrons to form a molecule. The valency of an element is the number of electrons it needs to gain or lose to attain a stable electron configuration.
From the options given, electrovalent bonding with a valency of 2 is the most likely for an element with atomic number twelve. This is because the element is in group 2 of the periodic table, which means it has 2 valence electrons. It is easier for the element to lose these two electrons to form a stable ion with a +2 charge, which will then bond with a negatively charged non-metal ion to form an electrovalent compound with a valency of 2.
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