What Element Has 7 Protons, 8 Neutrons, and 10 Electrons?
The number of protons in an atom's nucleus defines its element. An atom with 7 protons is always nitrogen (N). However, the information about neutrons and electrons tells us more about the specific isotope and ion of nitrogen. Let's break it down:
Protons: The Defining Factor
The 7 protons definitively identify this atom as nitrogen. This is fundamental to the element's identity and properties. The periodic table is organized by atomic number, which is the number of protons.
Neutrons: Isotopes of Nitrogen
The number of neutrons (8 in this case) tells us about the specific isotope of nitrogen. Isotopes are atoms of the same element (same number of protons) but with different numbers of neutrons. Nitrogen-15 (¹⁵N) is a stable isotope of nitrogen with 7 protons and 8 neutrons. The total number of protons and neutrons is known as the mass number (7 + 8 = 15).
Electrons: Ions of Nitrogen
The fact that there are 10 electrons, and not 7 (which would balance the 7 protons), indicates that this nitrogen atom is an ion. Specifically, it's a nitride anion (N³⁻). Nitrogen atoms typically gain three electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration, resulting in a net negative charge of 3-.
What Does This All Mean?
To summarize, we're looking at a nitride anion (N³⁻) of the isotope nitrogen-15 (¹⁵N). While the proton number identifies the element, the neutron number specifies the isotope, and the electron number reveals the charge and ionic state.
Frequently Asked Questions (Based on typical PAA queries)
What is an ion?
An ion is an atom or molecule that has gained or lost one or more electrons, giving it a net positive or negative electrical charge. A positively charged ion is called a cation, and a negatively charged ion is called an anion.
What is an isotope?
Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons. This means they have the same atomic number but different mass numbers.
How many isotopes of nitrogen are there?
Nitrogen has two naturally occurring stable isotopes: ¹⁴N and ¹⁵N. Several other radioactive isotopes of nitrogen exist but are not naturally found on Earth.
How is the charge of an ion determined?
The charge of an ion is determined by the difference between the number of protons (positive charge) and the number of electrons (negative charge). If there are more protons than electrons, the ion is positively charged. If there are more electrons than protons, the ion is negatively charged.
Can you give more examples of ions?
Yes, many elements form ions. Common examples include sodium (Na⁺), chloride (Cl⁻), calcium (Ca²⁺), and oxide (O²⁻).
By understanding protons, neutrons, and electrons, we can precisely identify and characterize atoms and their ionic forms. This foundational knowledge is crucial in chemistry and related fields.
