Determine the number of protons and the number of electrons in each ion. c. Ga³⁺

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the atomic number of the element. The atomic number of an element is equal to the number of protons in an atom of that element. For Gallium (Ga), the atomic number is 31. Therefore, Ga has 31 protons.
2. Step 2: Determine the charge of the ion. The charge of the ion is given as 3+. This means that the ion has lost 3 electrons.
3. Step 3: Calculate the number of electrons in the ion. The number of electrons in a neutral atom is equal to the number of protons. However, since the Ga ion has a 3+ charge, it has lost 3 electrons. Therefore, the number of electrons in Ga3+ is 31 (the number of protons) minus 3 (the lost electrons).
4. Step 4: So, the Ga3+ ion has 31 protons and 28 electrons.

Key Concepts

Atomic Structure

Atoms consist of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons are positively charged particles found in the nucleus, while electrons are negatively charged and orbit the nucleus. The number of protons defines the element, and in a neutral atom, the number of electrons equals the number of protons.

Ions

Ions are atoms or molecules that have gained or lost one or more electrons, resulting in a net charge. Cations are positively charged ions formed by losing electrons, while anions are negatively charged ions formed by gaining electrons. The charge of an ion indicates the difference between the number of protons and electrons.

Gallium Ion (Ga3+)

Gallium (Ga) has an atomic number of 31, meaning it has 31 protons. The Ga3+ ion indicates that the gallium atom has lost three electrons, resulting in a positive charge. Therefore, in the Ga3+ ion, there are 31 protons and 28 electrons, reflecting the loss of three electrons from the neutral gallium atom.