Final answer:
When a neutral atom gains or loses five electrons, it becomes an ion, but the atomic number and element type do not change. The correct answer to the question is A) 2 because the number of atoms with different atomic numbers remains the same.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'How many atoms with different atomic numbers are formed when 5 electrons are gained or lost by a neutral atom to form elements?' relates to the basic concept of atomic structure and ion formation. When a neutral atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes an ion, but the atomic number, which determines the element, remains unchanged. Therefore, despite the gain or loss of five electrons, the type of element (and thus the atomic number) does not change.
The correct answer is A) 2.
For example, in the case of aluminum (Al), which is in group 13, if it loses all its valence electrons, it forms a 3+ ion (Al³+) because the charge of a cation formed by the loss of all valence electrons is equal to the group number minus 10. Similarly, gaining electrons to form an anion does not change the atomic number either. The formation of ions changes the charge of the atoms, not their identity as elements.