Negative calcium ion

1988/04/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Kimika

Atoms tend to be configured in the most stable configuration. To do this, some atoms (usually non-metallic) collect electrons and form negative charge ions. Others (usually metals) lose electrons and produce positive ions.

Calcium, being metal, usually produces positive ions. However, some chemists working at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory have discovered a calcium ion, the negative ion, with three electrons in the outer layer. This negative calcium ion should be unstable and disintegrate into short microseconds.

This negative calcium ion has two electrons in layer 4s and one in layer 4p.

Should theory be questioned? We do not believe. Except for exceptions.