help with chemical reaction

Question

the maxium number of electrons that can be held in the valance shell of beryllium is 8.  is it true that it would lose electrons in a chemical reaction?

 

based on the above answer, if beryllium formed an ion, would the chemical formula be Be 2 + ion?

 

thanks

Answer 1

Beryllium has atomic number 4, which means that it has 4 electrons.  Two of these electrons are in the first energy level, which holds a maximum of 2 electrons, and the remaining 2 electrons are in the second energy level, or "valence shell" which has a capacity of 8.  It is much easier for Beryllium to lose 2 electrons than to gain 6.  Therefore, Beryllium loses two electrons, leaving it with a charge of +2.  Now the outer energy level (or valence shell) is the first level which is full with 2 electrons.