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The ion has 8 protons in its nucleus. How many neutrons and how many electrons does it have?
Can you please help how to calculate the number of electrons and neutrons!!!!!!! I know that when an uncharged atom becomes an ion if it gains or loses electrons.
3 Answers
- Cocia Ŵyn bac ypLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
You can't tell the number of neutrons from that information....it could be any of 3 isotopes of oxygen:
O (16) is the most abundant...8 protons, 8 neutrons, 8 electrons.
O (17).....8 protons, 9 neutrons, 8 electrons.
O(18)... 8 protons, 10 neutrons, 8 electrons.
Remember that for a neutral atom the number of protons = number of electrons.
I'd guess they meant the most common O (16) isotope.
To find the number of neutrons, you subtract the number of protons from the mass number... eg:
C (12).. Protons 6, Electrons 6, Neutrons 12 - 6 = 6.
C(14).. Protons 6, Electrons 6, Neutrons 14 - 6 = 8
FYE is WRONG!
Source(s): Chemistry A level. - Anonymous1 decade ago
Because the overall charge is neutral, the element must have the same number of protons and electrons. That would mean that it has 8 electrons. We can't deduce the number of neutrons from this information though. But, because the element is oxygen (8 protons and 8 electrons) we'll pick the most abundant isotope of oxygen which has 16 neutrons.
Hope this helps
(I agree with ^^ - FYE is wrong)
Source(s): Chemistry student
