Question

Chlorine (atomic number 17) will _____ electron to form _______ to attain the nearest noble gas configuration.

• A. lose, anion
• B. gain, cation
• C. lose, cation
• D. gain, anion

Answer 1

The correct option is D gain, anion

• Chlorine is a non-metal, with an electron configuration of 2, 8, 7.
• To achieve stability, the chlorine will require one electron in its outermost shell to complete the octet. Hence, the chlorine will gain 1 electron.
• Since chlorine gains an electron, it will possess a negative charge on it, hence it would become an anion.
• Therefore the correct answer is option b) gain, anion.