How would the tendency to lose electrons change as you go from left to right across a period?

[Murali]

1. How would the tendency to lose electrons change as you go

• from left to right across a period?
• down a group?

2. An element X (2,8,2) combines separately with (No3)-, (So4)2- and (Po4)3- radicals. Write the
   formulae of the three compounds so formed. To which group of the periodic table does the element ‘X’ belong? Will it form covalent or ionic compound? Why?

Answer:

• Tendency to lose electrons decreases.
• Increases.

2. The three compounds are X(N03)2, XS04 and X3(P04)2.
   Valence electrons of element X is 2. Therefore, element X belongs to group 2. It will form ionic compounds because X loses 2 electrons to achieve the electronic configuration of inert gas and forms a positively charged ion.