Question

complete the table below. for example, in the first row decide whether $ce{sc^{3+}}$ is a cation or anion. in the second row, write the symbol for the ion that an atom of chlorine is mostly likely to form and then decide what type of ion it is.

most likely ion	element	symbol of ion	type of ion
	chlorine	$square$	$circ$ cation $circ$ anion
	oxygen	$square$	$circ$ cation $circ$ anion
	calcium	$square$	$circ$ cation $circ$ anion
	rubidium	$square$	$circ$ cation $circ$ anion

Explanation:

• Scandium (metal) loses 3 electrons → $\text{Sc}^{3+}$ (cation).
• Chlorine (nonmetal) gains 1 electron → $\text{Cl}^{-}$ (anion).
• Oxygen (nonmetal) gains 2 electrons → $\text{O}^{2-}$ (anion).
• Calcium (metal) loses 2 electrons → $\text{Ca}^{2+}$ (cation).
• Rubidium (metal) loses 1 electron → $\text{Rb}^{+}$ (cation).

Cations are positive ions (lose electrons); anions are negative ions (gain electrons). Metals form cations, nonmetals form anions.

Answer:

Element	Symbol of most likely ion	Type of ion
Chlorine	$\text{Cl}^{-}$	anion
Oxygen	$\text{O}^{2-}$	anion
Calcium	$\text{Ca}^{2+}$	cation
Rubidium	$\text{Rb}^{+}$	cation