Chemistry: The Central Science (13th Edition)

Published by Prentice Hall
ISBN 10: 0321910419
ISBN 13: 978-0-32191-041-7

Chapter 7 - Periodic Properties of the Elements - Exercises - Page 290: 7.4

Answer

The red sphere represents a metal and the blue sphere represents a non-metal.

Work Step by Step

Non-metals usually gain electrons when chemically bonding, making them 'anions' and electrically negative (because they have gained electrons and are now more negatively charged). Anions are larger than their parent atoms because they have more electrons. This would make the blue sphere a non-metal, because it has gotten bigger in the reaction. The red sphere represents a metal because it has gotten smaller. We know that metals usually lose electrons when bonding, making them 'cations'. Cations are smaller than their parent atoms.
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