Chemistry Experiments in Your Own Laboratory by Robert Gardner

Author:Robert Gardner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Enslow Publishing, LLC

FIGURE 7: Most hydrogen atoms have a single proton in their nuclei. Most carbon atoms have 6 protons and 6 neutrons in their nuclei. Most oxygen atoms have 8 protons and 8 neutrons in their nuclei.

YOU WILL NEED

•TEASPOON

•EPSOM SALTS

•WATER

•SMALL JARS

•GRADUATED CYLINDER

•STIRRING ROD OR DRINKING STRAW

•AMMONIA, CLEAR HOUSEHOLD

•COFFEE FILTER OR A PIECE OF FILTER PAPER

•FUNNEL

•TALL GLASS OR BEAKER

•PAPER TOWEL

Some electrons are farther from the nucleus than others. They are more easily lost than the electrons that are closer to the nucleus. For example, a sodium atom, which has 11 protons and 11 electrons, may lose an electron to a chlorine atom. When it does, it is left with 11 protons and only 10 electrons. As a result, it then has a charge of +1. The chlorine atom, by gaining an electron, now has 1 more electron than it has protons. It then carries a charge of –1. (See Figure 8.)

Atoms that acquire a charge are called ions. Sodium chloride is the compound that forms when sodium atoms give electrons to a chlorine atom. It consists of sodium ions (Na+1) and chloride ions (Cl–1) in a ratio of 1:1. Many other compounds are formed in this way. They are called ionic compounds because they are made up of ions. Other compounds form when atoms share electrons. Such compounds are said to be covalent.

Chemists define oxidation as the loss of electrons. Oxidation always goes with reduction, the gain of electrons. When sodium reacts with chlorine to form sodium chloride, the sodium is oxidized because it loses electrons to form sodium ions (Na+1). The chlorine is reduced because it gains electrons to form chloride ions (Cl–1).

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