Answer:
An atom has 9 electrons and 9 protons at the start, If it loses 2 electrons, the net charge on the atom will be 2+.
If the atom instead gains 4 electrons, the net charge will be 4-.
Explanation:
Certainly!
An atom starts with an equal number of protons and electrons, making it electrically neutral. In this case, the atom has 9 protons (positively charged) and 9 electrons (negatively charged), resulting in a net charge of 0.
1. If the atom loses 2 electrons:
- Protons: 9 (unchanged)
- Electrons: 9 - 2 = 7
The atom now has 9 protons (positive charge) and 7 electrons (negative charge), resulting in a net charge of 9 - 7 = 2+.
2. If the atom gains 4 electrons:
- Protons: 9 (unchanged)
- Electrons: 9 + 4 = 13
The atom now has 9 protons (positive charge) and 13 electrons (negative charge), resulting in a net charge of 9 - 13 = -4.
