Question

How does the number of each type of particle in a sodium ion compare with the number of each type of particle in a sodium atom?

Answer 1

Answer and explanation;

• A neutral sodium atom contains 11 protons, 12 neutrons and 11 electrons. By removing an electron from this atom we get a positively charged Na+ ion that has a net charge of +1. Thus; Sodium atom is neutral whereas sodium ion is a charged species with a charge of +1.
• Sodium ion is positively charged. In sodium ion, there are 11 protons and 12 neutrons but 10 electrons, i.e., sodium ion contains lesser number of electrons. Additionally,the size of sodium ion is smaller than that of sodium atom.