and Lewis (electron dot) pictures for the elements; aluminium, silicon, and sulphur.
Electrons are configured into shells in an atom around the cells nucleusThey are arranged like this so basically, they don't run into each otherValence shells is the outer most shell of all the shellsThe valence shells tend to loose / gain electrons during reactionswhen electrons are gained, the overall charge is negative but if electrons are lost, the charge is positiveif electrons equal the number of protons, the atom is uncharged and is classified as neutralThe following are the electron configurations for your elements: Aluminium (13): 2,8,3 - tend to loose electrons Silicon (14): 2,8,4 - tend to loose or gain electrons Sulphur (16) 2,8,6 - tend to gain electrons the tendency to loose/ gain electrons is dependant on how full / empty the valence shell is (consisting of up to 8) Noble gases (group 8) do not react because they have full valence shells (8)
