Question

Identify the correct statement.

• A. By losing electron chlorine becomes cation
• B. By losing electron chlorine becomes anion
• C. By gaining electron chlorine becomes cation
• D. By gaining electron chlorine becomes anion

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Chlorine is a halogen, located in group 17 of the periodic table. 

Halogens have 7 valence electrons and tend to gain one electron to achieve a stable noble gas configuration (8 valence electrons). When an atom gains an electron, it becomes negatively charged because it now has more electrons than protons. 

A negatively charged ion is called an anion.  When an atom loses an electron, it becomes positively charged because it now has fewer electrons than protons. A positively charged ion is called a *cation*. 

Since chlorine gains an electron to become stable, it becomes an anion.