Elements of which of the following groups will form anions most readil...
**Explanation:**
**Anion Formation:**
- Anions are formed when atoms gain electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration.
- A stable electron configuration is typically achieved by filling the valence shell with eight electrons, known as the octet rule.
**Oxygen Family:**
- The oxygen family consists of elements such as oxygen (O), sulfur (S), selenium (Se), and tellurium (Te).
- These elements have six valence electrons.
- To achieve a stable electron configuration, they tend to gain two electrons to complete their octet.
- Therefore, they readily form anions with a -2 charge, such as O^2-, S^2-, Se^2-, and Te^2-.
**Nitrogen Family:**
- The nitrogen family includes elements such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), and bismuth (Bi).
- These elements have five valence electrons.
- To achieve a stable electron configuration, they tend to gain three electrons to complete their octet.
- However, gaining three electrons is energetically unfavorable for these elements.
- Therefore, they typically form anions with a -3 charge, such as N^3-, P^3-, As^3-, Sb^3-, and Bi^3-, but not as readily as the elements in the oxygen family.
**Halogens:**
- The halogens include elements such as fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), and astatine (At).
- These elements have seven valence electrons.
- To achieve a stable electron configuration, they tend to gain one electron to complete their octet.
- Therefore, they readily form anions with a -1 charge, such as F^-, Cl^-, Br^-, I^-, and At^-.
**Alkali Metals:**
- The alkali metals include elements such as lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), and cesium (Cs).
- These elements have one valence electron.
- To achieve a stable electron configuration, they tend to lose this valence electron and form cations with a +1 charge.
- Therefore, they do not readily form anions.
**Conclusion:**
- Among the given options, the halogens (option C) will form anions most readily.
- This is because they have seven valence electrons and only need to gain one electron to complete their octet.
- The other elements in the oxygen family and nitrogen family also form anions, but not as readily as the halogens.
- The alkali metals do not readily form anions; instead, they tend to form cations by losing their valence electron.
Elements of which of the following groups will form anions most readil...
Due to their high electron affinieties in their respective periods, halogens from anions most easily.