Question

How does a barium atom become a barium ion with a \[{{\text{2}}^ + }\]charge?

Answer 1

Hint In order to know how barium will become a barium ion with a \[{{\text{2}}^ + }\]charge, we must first have an idea about what an electrical charge is. Electrical charge is said to a charge that is present on an atom or ion present in a molecule. Electrical charge can also be referred to as the net charge.

Complete step by step solution:
Let us first understand about the Electrical charge. Electrical charge is said to a charge that is present on an atom or ion present in a molecule. Electrical charge can also be referred to as the net charge.
An atom will be having subatomic particles such as protons, electrons and neutrons present in it. An atom can become an ion only when it accepts or donates one or more electrons from it.
When an atom loses one or more of its electrons to another atom, it will become a cation, i.e., the atom will have a positive charge. When an atom gains one or more of its electrons to another atom, it will become an anion, i.e., the atom will have a negative charge.
Therefore, the Barium atom will become a Barium ion with \[{{\text{2}}^ + }\]charge, when Barium will lose its two electrons.

Let us now consider an example in which the Barium will react with the hydrochloric acid to give Barium chloride and hydrogen gas.
\[Ba(s) + 2HCl(g) \to BaC{l_2}(aq) + {H_2}(g)\]
In the above reaction, the solid barium will undergo a redox reaction to form aqueous barium chloride solution with a \[{{\text{2}}^ + }\]charge. Hydrogen chloride gas will undergo reduction to from +1 charge to neutral hydrogen gas.

Note: We have to remember that when the protons and electrons present in a molecule is equal, it will have a neutral net charge, i.e., 0. Therefore, such molecules are called neutral molecules.