When an atom is charged, it is called an ion. how many electrons are in o2-?

Chemistry
1

when an atom is charged, it is called an ion. how many electrons are in o2-?

2

When an atom is charged, it is called an ion. How many electrons are in O(_2^-)?

Answer:

To determine the number of electrons in the oxide ion (O(_2^-)), we need to understand the basic structure of the oxygen atom and how ions are formed.

Solution By Steps:

  1. Identify Atomic Number of Oxygen:

    • The atomic number of oxygen (O) is 8.
    • This means a neutral oxygen atom has 8 protons and 8 electrons.

  2. Determine Electron Gain for O(_2^-):

    • The ion O(_2^-) indicates that an oxygen atom has gained 2 additional electrons.
    • A neutral oxygen atom has 8 electrons.
    • When it gains 2 more electrons, it will have 8 + 2 = 10 electrons.

Therefore, the number of electrons in an O(_2^-) ion is 10.

Conclusion:

An oxygen ion with a 2- charge, denoted as O(_2^-), has gained two electrons compared to its neutral state. Hence, it contains a total of 10 electrons.