Element Chemistry Example 2

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Example 2

medium
Iron (Fe) has atomic number 26. How many protons and electrons does a neutral iron atom have? If iron forms the Fe3+\text{Fe}^{3+} ion, how many electrons does it have?

Solution

  1. 1
    Atomic number =26= 26, so a neutral Fe atom has 26 protons and 26 electrons.
  2. 2
    The Fe3+\text{Fe}^{3+} ion has lost 3 electrons: 26−3=2326 - 3 = 23 electrons.
  3. 3
    It still has 26 protons (the number of protons defines the element).

Answer

Neutral Fe: 26 protons, 26 electrons. Fe3+: 26 protons, 23 electrons.\text{Neutral Fe: 26 protons, 26 electrons. Fe}^{3+}\text{: 26 protons, 23 electrons.}
When an atom loses electrons, it becomes a positively charged ion (cation). The identity of the element never changes because the number of protons remains constant.

About Element

A pure substance consisting entirely of atoms with the same number of protons (same atomic number), which cannot be broken down into simpler substances by.

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More Element Examples

Example 1 easy

Explain why gold (Au) and oxygen (O) are considered elements, while water ([formula]) is not.

Example 3 easy

Classify each as an element or compound: (a) [formula], (b) [formula], (c) [formula], (d) [formula].

Example 4 medium

Sample A has atoms with 8 protons and 8 electrons. Sample B has atoms with 8 protons and 10 electron

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