Question

An electrically neutral atom of sodium (Na) has the same number of protons as an ion of sodium (Na+).

A.) True
B.) False

Answer 1

@breezymeetee what do you think the answer is

Answer 2

I was going to say False? @Photon336

Answer 3

Like I can guide you to the correct answer, but why do you think it's false? @breezymeetee

Answer 4

well because if protons and Electrons have the same number it would cause the atom to be neutral so it's true? @Photon336

Answer 5

Yes this is true @breezymeetee but let me explain

Answer 6

inside our nucleus we have protons that have a positive charge and neutrons that have no charge. outside of that we have electrons.

so overall the nucleus is positively charged because neutrons have no charge.

Answer 7

The situation that we have with sodium Na is that it's electrically neutral.

@breezymeetee the number of protons is actually the identity of our element, usually it doesn't change because if it did we would no longer have sodium. so for these cases the number of protons doesn't change at all.

Answer 8

Wow I actually Understand it now thank You so much! @Photon336

Answer 9

so one last thing before you head off

Answer 10

wow ur a good teacher

Answer 11

Yes sir? @Photon336

Answer 12

there are two cases.

Case #1 one or more electrons is lost.

if this happens, we get a cation a positive charge, WHY? because now there are more protons. so for example

let's take potassium for an example. if we took one electron away we have a positive charge now because there are more protons. the number of protons doesn't change because if it did we wouldn't have potassium