Question

Please help. Question in comment.

Answer 1

\[1s ^{2}2s ^{2}2p^{4}\]

so first thing we do is count up the electrons: 2+2+4 = 8
so we know that this element has 8 electrons. so that must mean it has 8 protons.
this is oxygen.

oxygen has 6 valence electrons so in order to have 8 valence electrons and an electron configuration of a noble gas which is

\[1s ^{2}2s ^{2}2p^{6}\] 10 electrons/ neon

oxygen would have to gain 2 electrons giving it a charge of -2.