Question

2. Refer to Figure 1. Which of the following is TRUE when

comparing the structure of sodium (Na) and chlorine (CI)?
O Chlorine contains more electrons than sodium.
O Sodium contains more atoms than chlorine.
O Sodium contains more electrons than chlorine.
O Chlorine contains more atoms than sodium.

Answer 1

Chlorine contains more electrons than sodium, as reflected in their atomic structures. With atomic numbers 17 and 11 respectively, chlorine's electron configuration (2, 8, 7) has a higher count than sodium's (2, 8, 1).

The correct statement is:

Chlorine contains more electrons than sodium.

Sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) are elements with atomic numbers 11 and 17, respectively. The atomic number represents the number of protons in an atom. Sodium has 11 electrons, with its electron configuration being 2, 8, 1. Chlorine has 17 electrons with an electron configuration of 2, 8, 7.

Chlorine has more electrons than sodium because it has a higher atomic number. Electrons are distributed in energy levels, and chlorine's outermost energy level has 7 electrons compared to sodium's 1 electron in its outermost energy level. Therefore, the statement "Chlorine contains more electrons than sodium" accurately describes the electronic structure of these elements.