Question

In electrovalency:

• A. molecules lose electrons, forming atoms
• B. molecules gain electrons, forming atoms
• C. atoms share electrons
• D. atoms lose or gain electrons, forming ions

Answer 1

The correct option is D

atoms lose or gain electrons, forming ions

Explanation for Correct answer:-

Option (D):

• Electrovalency is shown by atoms when it loses or gains electrons in order to attain stability.
• Electrovalency is seen in ionic bonds. It is equal to the number of electrons lost or gained by an atom to form an ion.
• An element has positive electrovalency if it loses electrons and gains a positive charge and thus forming a cation.
• An element has negative electrovalency if it gains electrons and acquires a negative charge thus forming an anion.
• For example, in Sodium chloride$\left(\mathrm{NaCl}\right)$, sodium loses its one electron and forms sodium ion $\left({\mathrm{Na}}^{+}\right)$ and shows positive electrovalency of $+1$ and chlorine accepts one electron and forms a chloride ion $\left({\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}\right)$ and shows negative electrovalency of $-1$.

Explanation for incorrect answers:-

Option (A):

• Electrovalency is the losing or gaining of electrons of the ions, not the molecules.
• Hence it is the incorrect option.

Option (B):

• Electrovalency is the losing or gaining of electrons of the ions, not the molecules.
• Hence it is the incorrect option.

Option (C):

• When atoms share electrons it forms a covalent bond, and the number of electrons shared by an atom is called its covalency.
• Hence it is the incorrect option.

Therefore, option (D) is the correct answer. In electrovalency, atoms lose or gain electrons, forming ions.