Question

An ion of iron has 26 protons, 30 neutrons, and 23 electrons. What are its atomic number, atomic mass, and net charge?

a) Atomic number: 26, Atomic mass: 56, Net charge: +3
b) Atomic number: 30, Atomic mass: 56, Net charge: -3
c) Atomic number: 26, Atomic mass: 56, Net charge: 0
d) Atomic number: 30, Atomic mass: 56, Net charge: 0

Answer 1

The ion has an atomic number of 26, atomic mass of 56, and a net charge of +3, as it has 26 protons, 30 neutrons, and 23 electrons.

Step-by-step explanation:

An ion of iron has 26 protons, 30 neutrons, and 23 electrons. To determine its atomic number, atomic mass, and net charge, we examine its composition. The atomic number is defined by the number of protons, which is 26. The atomic mass is the sum of the protons and neutrons, giving us 26 + 30 = 56. To find the net charge, we look at the difference between the number of protons and electrons. Since this ion has fewer electrons than protons (26 protons - 23 electrons), it has a positive charge. The difference of 3 indicates a net charge of +3. Thus, the correct answer is:

• Atomic number: 26
• Atomic mass: 56
• Net charge: +3