Multiple Choice
Which ion is formed when an atom has 26 protons and 24 electrons?
2. Atoms & Elements
Ions
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Which of the following elements is most likely to form a cation?
A
O
B
Na
C
Cl
D
S
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that a cation is a positively charged ion formed when an atom loses one or more electrons.
Recall that metals tend to lose electrons to form cations, while nonmetals tend to gain electrons to form anions.
Identify the elements given: O (oxygen), Na (sodium), Cl (chlorine), and S (sulfur). Note that Na is a metal, while O, Cl, and S are nonmetals.
Recognize that sodium (Na), being a metal in Group 1 of the periodic table, readily loses one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration, forming a Na⁺ cation.
Conclude that among the options, Na is the most likely to form a cation because it tends to lose electrons, unlike the other nonmetal elements which tend to gain electrons.
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