(a) Name the charged particles which attract one another to form electrovalent compounds.
(b) In the formation of electrovalent compounds, electrons are transferred from one element to another. How are electrons involved in the formation of a covalent compound?
(c) The electronic configuration of N2 is 2, 5. How many electrons in the outer shell of a N atom are not involved in the formation of a nitrogen molecule?
(d) In the formation of magnesium chloride (by direct combination between magnesium and chlorine) name the substance that is oxidised and the substance that is reduced.
(a) Cations (positively charged ions) and anions (negatively charged ions) are the charged particles that attract one another to form electrovalent compounds.
(b) Covalent compounds are formed by mutual sharing of electrons between the combining atoms.
(c) Electronic configuration of nitrogen atom is 2, 5 and valency of nitrogen atom is three. It will share three electrons with another nitrogen atom to complete its octet and form a triple bond with the other nitrogen atom. So, two electrons are not involved in the formation of nitrogen molecule.
(d) Magnesium loses its electrons by transferring them to chlorine atom. Hence, magnesium is oxidised and chlorine is reduced.