Question

What species is represented by the following information? `p^+ = 14`, `n^o = 12`, `e^(-) = 10`

Answer 1

`""_14^26"Si"^(4+)`

Explanation:

Right from the start, you should know that the number of protons gives you the identity of the element.

Each element listed in the Periodic Table has a unique atomic number, i.e. each element has a unique number of protons located inside its nucleus.

So, your atom contains `14` protons inside its nucleus. Grab a periodic table and look for the element that has an atomic number equal to `14`.

You can thus say that you're dealing with silicon, `"Si"`.

Now, a neutral atom of silicon will have `14` protons inside its nucleus and `14` electrons surrounding its nucleus. In your case, the atom has `10` electrons surrounding the nucleus, which means that you're dealing with an ion.

More specifically, you're dealing with a positively charged ion, i.e. a cation. The charge of the cation is given by the difference between the number of protons and the number of electrons

`"charge" = "14 p"^(+) - "10 e"^(-) = 4+`

Therefore, you can say that you're dealing with a `"Si"^(4+)` cation.

Finally, you can use the number of neutrons to find the mass number, `A`, of the cation. As you know, the mass nubmer is equal to

`A = Z + n^(0)`

In your case, you have

`A = "14 p"^(+) + "12 n"^(0) = 26`

The tells you that you're dealing with the `4+` cation of a neutral silicon-26 atom. In isotope notation, this is written as

`""_14^26"Si"^(4+)`