Question

1. How many electrons does potassium need to lose to become an ion? Will it become a positively charged cation or a negatively charged anion?
2. How many electrons must nitrogen gain to become like its closest noble gas, Neon?
3. What are valence electrons?

Answer 1

Atomic number of potassium is = 19

Electronic configuration is = 1S² 2S² 2P⁶ 3S² 3P⁶ 4S¹ = [Ar] 4S¹

Potassium (K) looses one electron to become a positive ion i.e., cation.

Nitrogen = atomic number = 7 = 1S² 2S² 2P³

Nitrogen has to gain 3 electrons to become like Neon with electron configuration 1S² 2S² 2P⁶.

Valence electrons indicate the electrons present in outer shell.'Valence electrons of nitrogen are 3 or 5 while for potassium number of valence electrons is 1.