Isotopes & Ions

Front

What is an isotope?

Back

Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Front

What is an ion?

Back

An ion is an atom or molecule that has a net electrical charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.

Front

How do you determine the mass number of an atom?

Back

The mass number is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.

Front

What happens to an atom when it loses electrons?

Back

It becomes a positively charged ion (cation).

Front

What happens to an atom when it gains electrons?

Back

It becomes a negatively charged ion (anion).

Front

If a neutral atom has 12 protons, how many electrons does it have?

Back

It has 12 electrons.

Front

What is the atomic number of an element?

Back

The atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the element's identity.

Front

Can two atoms with different mass numbers be the same element?

Back

Yes, they can be isotopes of the same element.

Front

What is the charge of an ion that has lost three electrons?

Back

The ion has a charge of 3+.

Front

If an atom has 20 protons and 18 electrons, what is its charge?

Back

The atom has a charge of 2+.