[danhell]

Hello everyone,

I am to complete a table which asks for the amount protons, neutrons, electrons and net charge of elements.

The first symbol is given and it is Ga. around the symbol, it states that the atomic mass as 69 and atomic number as 31 and that Ga is 3+. So i filled in the rest, (31 protons, 38 neutrons..) however I am unsure what the electrons would be as it is an ion? I know if it was neutral it would 31. And would the net charge be 3+?

So, the next question just has the protons as 9, neutrons as 10 and electrons as 20. So I went through the periodic table and found that it is F.. however, i don't understand how it has 20 electrons?

The following question has 29 protons, 34 neutrons, and a net charge of 1+. Going through the periodic table, i found that it is Cu. I am still troubled as to what the electrons are and if the net charge is 1+ does that mean the the symbol would be Cu+? I thought that the electrons could be 28 as its net charge is 1+ but then that doesn't apply to F and its 20 electrons?

I have been trying to work this out for hours. Major stress. It would be much appreciated if someone out there could correct/help me. I do love chemistry, I just wish I was better at it. -.-

Thanks,

danhell.

[Borek]

The first symbol is given and it is Ga. around the symbol, it states that the atomic mass as 69 and atomic number as 31 and that Ga is 3+. So i filled in the rest, (31 protons, 38 neutrons..) however I am unsure what the electrons would be as it is an ion? I know if it was neutral it would 31. And would the net charge be 3+?

If the net charge is +3, there is an obvious lack of electrons - how many?

[danhell]

Uh.. well if its 3+ then its lost 3 electrons?

[opti384]

Uh.. well if its 3+ then its lost 3 electrons?

Yes.

[danhell]

Okay thanks. But I still don't understand how to calculate the amount of electrons an atom has when the atom is an ion? And therefore do not understand what negative number the charge would be for F has if it has 20 electrons and only has 9 protons?

[Nobby]

Fluorine F has 9 protons and also 9 electrons. To reach noble gas state it can have one electron more its then fluoride F^-

It can not have 20 electrons.

[opti384]

But I still don't understand how to calculate the amount of electrons an atom has when the atom is an ion?

First of all do you understand that a neutral atom has the same number of electrons and protons? And an ion is usually, by definition, an atom that lacks or has more electrons than the neutral atom (there are also polyatomic ions). Therefore, if a neutral atom has excessive electrons, it will have a negative charge.