Cations of Representative Metals

Monatomic Cations of Representative Metals Representative metals almost always form cations in which the ionic charge equals the group number. This is because the group number is equal to the number of electrons in the highest 

For example, sodium is in group 1A, and forms a cation with a charge of + 1. Sodium metal has 11 electrons, and one of these electrons is in the third electron shell, all by itself. By giving away that electron, the resulting sodium cation has the exact number of electrons as neon, and all of its electrons are in filled shells. 

Predict the charge on the ions that are formed from Ba, Rb, and Tl. 

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