Our discussion of valence electron configurations leads us to one of the cardinal tenets of chemical bonding,
the octet rule. The octet rule states that atoms become especially stable when their valence shells gain a full
complement of valence electrons. For example, in above, Argon (Ar) and Neon (Ne) have outer valence shells
that are completely filled, so neither has a tendency to gain or lose electrons. (Helium is the only exception to
the octet rule, because there are no p orbitals in the first shell, the shell is full when it has a full s orbital or 2
valence electrons.) Therefore, Helium , Neon and Argon, three of the so-called Noble gases, exist in free
atomic form and do not usually form chemical bonds with other atoms.
Most elements, however, do not have a full outer shell and are too unstable to exist as free atoms. Instead they
seek to fill their outer electron shells by forming chemical bonds with other atoms and thereby attain Noble Gas
configuration. An element will tend to take the shortest path to achieving Noble Gas configuration, whether that
means gaining or losing electrons. For example, sodium (Na), which has a single electron in its outer 3s
orbital, can lose that electron to attain the electron configuration of neon. Chlorine, with seven valence
electrons, can gain one electron to attain the configuration of argon. When two different elements have the
same electron configuration, they are called isoelectronic.
What other factor is explain by the presence of unpaired electrons found in the
transitional element?
As seen in the previous section on the octet rule, atoms tend to lose or gain electrons in order to attain a full
valence shell and the stability a full valence shell imparts. Because electrons are negatively charged, an atom
becomes positively or negatively charged as it loses or gains an electron, respectively. Any atom or group of
atoms with a net charge (whether positive or negative) is called an ion. A positively charged ion is a cation
while a negatively charged ion is an anion.
Now we are ready to discuss the periodic trends of atomic size, ionization energy, electron affinity, and
electronnegativity.
Anions, conversely, are negatively charged ions: atoms that have gained electrons. In anions, electron-electron
repulsion increases and the positive charge is not strong enough to keep the electrons contained in the same
spatial area.. Anions have a greater atomic radius than the neutral atom from which they derive.
example, after the d shell has been filled, ionization energy actually drops. In general, though, the trend is of
increasing ionziation energy from left to right.
Ionization Energy Down a Group
Ionization energy decreases moving down a group for the same reason atomic size increases: electrons add
new shells creating extra shielding that supersedes the addition of protons. The atomic radius increases, as
does the energy of the valence electrons. This means it takes less energy to remove an electron, which is what
ionization energy measures.
Two dips in IE occur as you cross from and s orbital to the next p (Be to B, Mg to Al) and again from a filled p
to the next electron (N to O, or P to S etc)
Electron Affinity
An atom's electron affinity is the energy change in an atom when that atom gains an electron. The sign of the
electron affinity can be confusing. When an atom gains an electron and becomes more stable, its potential
energy decreases: upon gaining an electron the atom gives off energy and the electron affinity is negative.
(Delta H = exothermic) When an atom becomes less stable upon gaining an electron, its potential energy
increases, which implies that the atom gains energy as it acquires the electron. In such a case, the atom's
electron affinity is positive. An atom with a negative electron affinity is far more likely to gain electrons.
Electron Affinities Across a Period
Electron affinities becoming increasingly negative from left to right. Just as in ionization energy, this trend
conforms to and helps explain the octet rule. The octet rule states that atoms with close to full valence shells
will tend to gain electrons. Such atoms are located on the right of the periodic table and have very negative
electron affinities, meaning they give off a great deal of energy upon gaining an electron and become more
stable. Be careful, though: the nobel gases, located in the extreme right hand column of the periodic table do
not conform to this trend. Noble gases have full valence shells, are very stable, and do not want to add more
electrons: noble gas electron affinities are positive. Similarly, atoms with full subshells also have more positive
electron affinities (are less attractive of electrons) than the elements around them. \
Electronegativity
Electronegativity refers to the ability of an atom to attract the electrons of another atom to it when those two
atoms are associated through a bond. Electronegativity is based on an atom's ionization energy and electron
affinity. For that reason, electronegativity follows similar trends as its two constituent measures.
Electronegativity generally increases moving across a period and decreases moving down a group. Flourine
(F), in group VIIA and period 2, is the most powerfully electronegative of the elements. Electronegativity plays a
very large role in the processes of Chemical Bonding.
alence Electrons