1. Identify the Charges:
* Aluminum (Al) is in group 3A, so it has 3 valence electrons and tends to lose them to achieve a stable octet. It forms a +3 ion (Al³⁺).
* Chlorine (Cl) is in group 7A, so it has 7 valence electrons and tends to gain one electron to achieve a stable octet. It forms a -1 ion (Cl⁻).
2. Determine the Ratio:
To balance the charges, we need three chlorine atoms (3 x -1 = -3) to match the +3 charge of one aluminum atom. The resulting compound is Aluminum Chloride (AlCl₃).
3. Count the Electrons Transferred:
* Each aluminum atom loses 3 electrons.
* Each chlorine atom gains 1 electron.
* Since there are three chlorine atoms, a total of 3 electrons are transferred.
Therefore, 3 electrons are transferred to form a bond between aluminum and chlorine.
