Multiple Choice
How many electrons are present in an oxide ion (O^{2-})?
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2. Atoms & Elements
Ions
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Which process must occur for aluminum to form the ion Al^{3+}?
A
Aluminum must lose three electrons.
B
Aluminum must lose three protons.
C
Aluminum must gain three electrons.
D
Aluminum must gain three neutrons.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that the formation of an ion involves a change in the number of electrons, not protons or neutrons, because protons define the element and neutrons affect isotopes but not charge.
Recall that aluminum (Al) has an atomic number of 13, meaning it has 13 protons and, in its neutral state, 13 electrons.
To form the ion Al^{3+}, aluminum must have a net positive charge of +3, which means it must lose electrons since electrons carry a negative charge.
Specifically, losing three electrons will reduce the number of electrons from 13 to 10, resulting in a +3 charge because the number of protons (13) remains unchanged.
Therefore, the process required is that aluminum must lose three electrons to form the Al^{3+} ion.
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