Why is it highly unlikely for calcium to form a Ca plu and for sodium to fo a na 2 plus cation?

Answer 1

Calcium typically forms a Ca²⁺ ion because it has two valence electrons that it can easily lose to achieve a stable electron configuration similar to noble gases. In contrast, sodium generally forms a Na⁺ ion by losing one electron, as it has only one valence electron to lose. Forming a Ca⁺ ion would be less stable, while a Na²⁺ ion would require removing two electrons, which is energetically unfavorable for sodium due to its larger atomic size and lower effective nuclear charge for holding onto multiple electrons.