Two different atoms have four protons each and the same mass. However, one has a positive charge while the other is neutral. Describe what each atomic structure could be, listing the possible number and location of all subatomic particles.

Question

Vocaloid · Answer

@tranquility 
Would you mind taking a look at this? I have to go back to work soon ;-;

Tranquility · Answer

What element would it be if it has 4 protons?

Remember, if the number of protons changes then you have a completely different element.
If the number of neutrons changes, you form different isotopes of that element.
If the number of electrons changes, you form different ions

kekeman · Answer

@tranquility wrote:

What element would it be if it has 4 protons? Remember, if the number of protons changes then you have a completely different element. If the number of neutrons changes, you form different isotopes of that element. If the number of electrons changes, you form different ions

Beryllium? right

kekeman · Answer

@tranquility

Tranquility · Answer

@kekeman wrote:

Beryllium? right

Yes

Tranquility · Answer

If an atom is neutral, it means that it has an equal number of protons and electrons
Thus the positive charge from each proton cancels out with the negative charge from the electrons

If an atom has a positive charge, does that mean it has more protons than electrons? Or more electrons than protons?

kekeman · Answer

More protons than electrons i think

kekeman · Answer

So i kinda don't get when it says "Two different atoms have four protons each and the same mass."

kekeman · Answer

So Beryllium and what other atom has 4 protons

kekeman · Answer

Like should i be naming another atom? or no

Tranquility · Answer

@kekeman wrote:

More protons than electrons i think

Yes. If we change the number of protons, we're changing the element. That means we just have one less electron so that way we have the same element but we would have a positive charge

Tranquility · Answer

@kekeman wrote:

Like should i be naming another atom? or no

No, it's the same element. Remember, the charge is determined by # of protons and # of electrons Protons are positively charged Electrons are negatively charged However, mass is determined by # of protons and # of NEUTRONS Electrons are very small and have a negligible mass Protons and neutrons have very similar masses So if they have the same mass, that means that the number of protons and neutrons for both of these ions are the same. You're just dealing with Beryllium and an ion of it with a positive charge

Tranquility · Answer

Does that make sense?

kekeman · Answer

Ohhh ok i get so we are only talking and trying to explain the atomic structure and also the subatomic particles of this atom

kekeman · Answer

I get it now i am going to use this information to write about it and i'll show you my final outcome

Tranquility · Answer

sounds good

kekeman · Answer

Here is what i came up with:
Well the atom that is being talked about here is Beryllium and this atom has the atomic number of 4, has 4 protons, and 4 electrons. The atom has an equal number of protons and electrons (which is 4) so this means that it is a neutral element. To find the amount of neutrons we have to use the average atomic mass (which is 9.01) and round it to the nearest whole number (which is 9). So we use the mass number (9) and the number of protons (4) to find the number of neutrons (5) because 9 - 4 = 5. The charge is determined by the number of protons and the number of electrons and if the mass is the same, then that means the number of protons and also neutrons for both of the ions are going to be the same.

Tranquility · Answer

Sounds good. I would just an extra sentence that the atom with a positive charge will have 3 electrons, 4 protons and 5 neutrons. It will have the same mass but will have a positive charge

kekeman · Answer

Ok thank you!

Tranquility · Answer

You're welcome!