How can you predict if an element will form a cation or an anion?

- Elements with more protons than electrons turn into cations.

- Elements with more electrons than cations turn into anions.

Explanation:

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One could predict whether an element will form a cation or anion by computing how many protons an element has, this is done by knowing its atomic number and average atomic mass. Thus, if an element has more protons than electrons, one says that it is about a cation rather than an anion. On the other hand, elements that have more electrons than protons form anions instead of cations. Now, if two elements are mixed, the amount of ionization energy stipulates whether the new substance will turn into a cation or anion.

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you need to take a look at the periodic system in order to sort these elements into pairs that would most likely exhibit similar chemical properties. first, you need to find elements that are found in the same group (groups are vertical in the periodic system), and then to see whether they have the same valence number. if they meet these criteria, they will have similar properties.

the first pair: ne (neon) and kr (krypton), are noble gases found in group 8

the second pair: li (lithium) and k (potassium), found in group 1

the third pair: s (sulfur) and te (tellurium), found in group 6