Why do different elements have different charges?

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The discussion revolves around the concept of atomic stability in chemistry, particularly the idea of atoms seeking a stable electron configuration, often described informally as being "happy." This notion, while not scientifically precise, refers to atoms achieving lower energy states through electron transfer. The conversation highlights the differences in oxidation states among elements in the same group, such as oxygen and phosphorus, which can exhibit varying charges due to quantum chemistry's influence on electron configurations. The participants clarify that a "happier" configuration corresponds to a lower energy state, exemplified by the formation of sodium chloride, where the combined structure is energetically more favorable than separate sodium and chlorine atoms. The discussion also touches on common misconceptions regarding elemental groupings, illustrating the complexities of chemical behavior and stability.
Fifty
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Since I was first introduced to chemistry, it's been because "it has two more than eight, and it wants eight to be "happy" so it loses two electrons and gains a positive two charge."

It's good enough for me to write on tests, but 'happy' isn't exactly a scientifically accurate term.
And why can similar elements have different charges? For example, why can oxygen be 2 and 1, but phosphorus (same group) can be +/- 3, 5 and -2?
 
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Short answer: the answer lies in limits quantum chemistry puts on electron configurations.
 
Since when are oxygen and phosphorus in the same group?
 
Hi Fifty! :smile:
Fifty said:
… 'happy' isn't exactly a scientifically accurate term.

'happy' means 'with lower energy' …

any system naturally prefers the configuration with the lowest energy

if chlorine can grab an electron from sodium, then the chlorine-sodium pair has lower energy, and is 'happier' o:)
 
DrDu said:
Since when are oxygen and phosphorus in the same group?
Sorry, for some inexplicable reason I always get Sulphur and Phosphorus confused.
 
tiny-tim said:
Hi Fifty! :smile:


'happy' means 'with lower energy' …

any system naturally prefers the configuration with the lowest energy

if chlorine can grab an electron from sodium, then the chlorine-sodium pair has lower energy, and is 'happier' o:)

How, exactly does this work? There is still the same amount of particles (and matter) so why should the Sodium Chloride particle have less energy than one Sodium atom and one Chlorine atom?
 

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