Identify the atomic number of oxygen (O), which represents the number of protons and, in a neutral atom, also the number of electrons. For oxygen, the atomic number is 8.
Understand that the O^{2-} ion has gained 2 extra electrons compared to the neutral oxygen atom, because the negative charge indicates additional electrons.
Calculate the total number of electrons in the O^{2-} ion by adding the 2 extra electrons to the 8 electrons of the neutral oxygen atom.
Write the expression for the total electrons as: \(8 + 2\).
Conclude that the number of electrons in the O^{2-} ion is the sum from the previous step.