Question

Please help! Kiki makes a table to compare the particles in a magnesium atom to those in a magnesium ion. She knows that a magnesium ion has an electric field that points away from the ion. What values should she use to complete her table?
(The table looks something like this:
Magnesium Atom  Magnesium Ion
Protons (Magnesium Atom)12  (and Magnesium Ion) X
Neutrons (MA)12  (MI)Y
Electrons (MA) 12  (MI) Z
A. X: 14 Y: 12 Z: 12
B.X: 12 Y: 12 Z: 10
C. X: 12 Y: 10 Z: 12 X: 12
D. Y: 12 Z: 14

Answer 1

The answer would be D

Answer 2

Answer:

B.X: 12 Y: 12 Z: 10  

Explanation:

Electric field points away from a positive ion and towards for a negative ion. An atom becomes an ion when it loses or gains electrons.

A positive ion is formed when the electrons are lost to another atom and remaining atom has more number of protons than electrons.

Atomic number of magnesium is 12 which means it has 12 protons and 12 electrons in a neutral atom. atomic mass of magnesium is 24 which means it has 12 neutrons.

A positive magnesium ion must have electrons less than protons. There would be no change in number of protons and neutrons.

From the given options, in option B, number of protons and neutrons is same i.e. 12 where as number electrons is 10 which is less than the number of protons. This means these are the correct options for magnesium ion.