A hydrogen ion (H+) consists of 1 proton. Why has its corresponding electron been repelled? Doesn’t it make more sense that H would take up an electron to fill its K shell?
Answer
Hi Peter,
A hydrogen atom can do both. Both donating an electron and taking in an extra electron bring the hydrogen atom into an energetically more favorable state. Whether it breaks to a proton or to a hydride anion (H–) depends on the environment: which atoms are still nearby. Basically it comes down to nature striving for the most stable configuration, and thus weighing up what is energetically advantageous, taking an electron away from another atom to form a hydride or forming a proton and thereby charge the other atom negatively. . To evaluate this you need to look at the electronegativity of the other atoms present. In rough lines, electronegativity goes up as you move from the bottom left of the periodic table to the top right. Atoms that can take an electron from hydrogen are therefore mainly atoms that are located on the left side of the periodic table.
Best regards,
Glenn
Answered by
Glenn Vanluchene
polymer chemistry
http://www.ugent.be
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