If a nitrogen atom (N) gains two electrons, which of the following elements would it be isoelectronic with?

• A. Oxygen (O)
• B. Carbon (C)
• C. Neon (Ne)
• D. Fluorine (F)

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that being isoelectronic means having the same number of electrons, regardless of the element's identity.
2. Determine the number of electrons in a neutral nitrogen (N) atom. Since nitrogen has an atomic number of 7, it has 7 electrons.
3. Since the nitrogen atom gains two electrons, calculate the new total number of electrons: \(7 + 2 = 9\) electrons.
4. Compare this total number of electrons (9) to the electron counts of the given elements: Oxygen (8), Carbon (6), Neon (10), and Fluorine (9).
5. Identify the element with the same number of electrons as the nitrogen ion (9 electrons), which is Fluorine (F), making them isoelectronic.