Question

Explain the formation of Calcium chloride with the help of electron dot structure.

Answer 1

Formation of Calcium Chloride with the help of electron dot structure:

1. The molecular formula of Calcium chloride is ${\mathrm{CaCl}}_2$.
2. The atomic number of Calcium ($\mathrm{Ca}$) is 20.
3. Electronic configuration of $\mathrm{Ca}$ is [$\mathrm{Ar}$] $4{\mathrm{s}}^2$ or $(2,8,8,2)$.
4. Hence Calcium needs to lose two electrons to attain noble gas configuration.
5. The atomic number of Chlorine ($\mathrm{Cl}$) is 17.
6. Electronic configuration of $\mathrm{Cl}$ is [$\mathrm{Ne}$] $3{\mathrm{s}}^{2}3{\mathrm{p}}^5$ or$(2,8,7)$.
7. Hence Chlorine needs to gain one electron to attain noble gas configuration.
8. Therefore, two valence electrons of Calcium form bonds with one electron of each Chlorine, and hence results in the formation of Calcium chloride.

Hence, the Calcium chloride is formed by the combination of one calcium and two chlorine atoms.