What is the name symbol and charge of an ion that contains 12 protons and 10 electrons?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
Name: Magnesium ion
Symbol: Mg²⁺
Charge: +2
Explanation:
Atoms are made up of three main subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons carry a positive charge and are found in the nucleus of an atom. Electrons carry a negative charge and orbit around the nucleus. Neutrons are neutral and also found in the nucleus. The number of protons in an atom determines which element it is. In this case, the atom has 12 protons, which means it is a magnesium atom because the atomic number of magnesium is 12.
A neutral atom has an equal number of protons and electrons. So, a neutral magnesium atom would have 12 protons and 12 electrons. However, the ion described has only 10 electrons, which means it has lost 2 electrons. Since electrons are negatively charged, losing two of them results in a net positive charge. Each lost electron removes one negative charge, so removing two electrons gives the atom a charge of +2.
Because it has lost electrons, it is no longer a neutral atom but a cation, which is a positively charged ion. The symbol for magnesium is Mg, and when it becomes a cation by losing two electrons, the ion is written as Mg²⁺. This shows the element (Mg) and its net positive charge (+2).
In summary, an ion with 12 protons and 10 electrons must be a magnesium ion with a +2 charge. The number of protons identifies it as magnesium, and the loss of two electrons explains the +2 charge. This is a common charge for magnesium ions, as magnesium typically loses two electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration, similar to the noble gases.
