Question

An electrically neutral atom of oxygen has eight electrons. What other facts do you know for sure about this atom? 1.) there are eight neutrons in the nucleus 2.) there are eight protons 3.) there is a charge of +8 on an atom of beryllium 4.) there is a charge of -8 on an atom of beryllium

Answer 1

2.) there are eight protons

Answer 2

Answer: The correct options are:

1.) there are eight neutrons in the nucleus

2.) there are eight protons

Explanation:

Since, it is given that given atom of oxygen is electrically neutral and it contains 8 electrons. This also means that number of protons present in it will also be 8.

Hence, its atomic number that is, sum of only total number of protons present in the oxygen atom are also 8.

Whereas mass number or atomic mass is the sum of total number of both protons and neutrons present in an element.

For example, given atom has atomic number is 8.  And, it is known that atomic mass of O is 16 g/mol.

Therefore, number of neutrons present in it will be calculated as follows.

                    Mass number = no. of protons + no. of neutrons

                         16 = 8 + no. of neutrons

                    no. of neutrons = 16 - 8  

                                               = 8

Hence, we can conclude that in the given atom of oxygen there are 8 protons and 8 neutrons.