Final answer:
The Vanadium cation V3+ has 23 protons (which is also its atomic number) and 20 electrons, after losing 3 electrons due to the 3+ charge.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the number of protons and electrons in V3+, we will use some basic principles of atomic structure. The atomic symbol 'V' refers to the element Vanadium on the periodic table, and the '3+' indicates that this is a cation with a charge of +3, meaning it has lost three electrons.
The number of protons in an atom is the atomic number, which for Vanadium is 23. This number does not change when an atom forms an ion. Therefore, V3+ still has 23 protons. The number of electrons in a neutral atom is equal to the number of protons, meaning a neutral Vanadium atom would have 23 electrons. However, due to the 3+ charge, we know that V3+ must have lost 3 electrons. Consequently, V3+ has 23 - 3 = 20 electrons.
In summary, the Vanadium cation V3+ has 23 protons and 20 electrons.