Question

Fill in the blanks to determine the number of protons and electrons in an oxygen ion. (Consult the periodic table to determine the number of protons in a neutral oxygen atom.) The O2− ion has _____ protons and _____ electrons. Express your answers as integers separated by a comma.

Answer 1

Answer: The number of protons and electrons in the given ion are 8, 10 respectively.

Explanation:

Atomic number is defined as the number of protons or electrons that are present in a neutral atom.

Atomic number = number of protons = number of electrons

For the given representation of ion, which is:  $O^{2-}$

We are given:

Atomic number = Number of protons = 8

Charge on the ion = -2

Number of electrons = Number of protons - charge = 8 - (-2) = 10

Hence, the number of protons and electrons in the given ion are 8, 10 respectively.