An element has the electronic configuration (2,8, 7). Write down the electronic configuration of an element:
(a) Which forms an ionic compound with it.
(b) Which forms a covalent compound with it.

Explanation

(a) The element which forms an ionic compound with the given element should be able to lose one (or more) electron from its outermost shell. Therefore, the electronic configuration of the probable element is 2, 8, 1.
(b) Hydrogen having only one electron in its valence shell forms a covalent compound with the element having electronic configuration 2, 8, 7.