Question

When nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, sodium, magnesium and aluminum ionize, they all will have:
a. different electron configuration from each other.
b. an unchanged electron configuration.
c. the same charge.
d. the same electron configuration (isoelectronic) as neon.
[Definition: The word isoelectronic means that when you write out the electron configuration they are the same. An exam would be He and Li whereby both of them have 2 electrons and therefore they are both are 1s2 in their electron configurations.]

Answer 1

Answer: d. the same electron configuration (isoelectronic) as neon.

Explanation:

Isoelectronic species are defined as the molecules which have the same number of electrons.

Atomic number of nitrogen is 7 and thus has 7 electrons. Nitrogen has electronic configuration of 2,5 and thus can gain 3 electrons and thus $N^{3-}$ will have electronic configuration of 2,8 ( same as that of neon)

Atomic number of oxygen is 8 and thus has 8 electrons. Oxygen has electronic configuration of 2,6 and thus can gain 2 electrons and thus $O^{2-}$ will have electronic configuration of 2,8 ( same as that of neon)

Atomic number of flourine is 9 and thus has 9 electrons. Flourine has electronic configuration of 2,7 and thus can gain 1 electron and thus $F^{-}$ will have electronic configuration of 2,8 ( same as that of neon)

Atomic number of sodium is 11 and thus has 11 electrons. Sodium has electronic configuration of 2,8,1 and thus can lose 1 electron and thus $Na^{+}$ will have electronic configuration of 2,8 ( same as that of neon)

Atomic number of magnesium is 12 and thus has 12 electrons. Magnesium has electronic configuration of 2,8,2 and thus can lose 2 electrons and thus $Mg^{2+}$ will have electronic configuration of 2,8 ( same as that of neon)

Atomic number of aluminium is 13 and thus has 13 electrons. Aluminium has electronic configuration of 2,8,3 and thus can lose 3 electrons and thus $Al^{3+}$ will have electronic configuration of 2,8 ( same as that of neon)