Question

Give one word answer for the following:

Elements having 1,2 or 3 electrons in their outermost orbit.

Answer 1

• Electrons are negatively charged particles revolving around the nucleus of an atom.
• Atoms need to complete their duet or octet i.e., 2 or 8 electrons in their outermost orbit to become stable.
• The atoms which have 1,2 or 3 electrons in their outermost shell donate the electrons to another element, to get stable.
• This is the property of metals that they donate electrons to form cation i.e., positively charged ion.
• In an example of Sodium(Na) metal atom having atomic number 11.
• Its electrons are arranged in order of 2,8,1.
• Hence, it has 1 electron in its outermost shell, which it donates to form ${\mathrm{Na}}^{+}$ion.

Thus, the correct answer is metal.