A neutral atom containing ten negative charges is what element?

1 Answer
anor277
Feb 24, 2017

#"The element is neon........."#

Explanation:

If there are 10 negative charges, 10 electrons, there MUST be 10 positive charges, 10 protons, associated with the neutral atom. Why #"must"#? And if there are 10 fundamental positive charges then #Z=10#, you look at your Periodic Table, and you find for #Z=10#, we have #"neon"#, an inert gas.

Note that you must learn to use the Periodic Table like this. What about #Z=12#, #Z=27#, #Z=92#. Which elements do we specify? An examiner could equally ask the identity of a singly negatively charged ion, #X^-#, with 10 or 18 electrons. Which elements do we specify?

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