Multiple Choice
In order to have a positive charge, an atom must have ________.
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2. Atoms & Elements
Ions
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Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
A cation with a charge of +2 indicates that an element has:
A
gained two electrons
B
gained two protons
C
lost two electrons
D
lost two protons
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that a cation is a positively charged ion, which means it has more protons than electrons.
Recall that the charge on an ion is determined by the difference between the number of protons (positive charge) and electrons (negative charge).
A charge of +2 means the ion has two more positive charges than negative charges.
Since protons cannot be gained or lost in chemical reactions (they define the element), the positive charge must come from losing electrons.
Therefore, a cation with a +2 charge indicates the element has lost two electrons.
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