Multiple Choice
Which of the following elements is most likely to form a cation by losing two electrons?
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2. Atoms & Elements
Ions
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When sodium forms its common ion, Na^+, how many protons and electrons does it have?
A
10 protons and 10 electrons
B
11 protons and 11 electrons
C
10 protons and 11 electrons
D
11 protons and 10 electrons
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall that the number of protons in an atom is determined by its atomic number. For sodium (Na), the atomic number is 11, so it has 11 protons.
Understand that the common ion formed by sodium is Na⁺, which means it has lost one electron compared to the neutral atom.
Since a neutral sodium atom has 11 electrons (equal to the number of protons), losing one electron to form Na⁺ means it now has 10 electrons.
Summarize that the Na⁺ ion has 11 protons (unchanged) and 10 electrons (one less than the neutral atom).
Therefore, the correct description of the Na⁺ ion is 11 protons and 10 electrons.
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