Final answer:
Neon (Ne) is the element that can form a Ne⁴⁺ ion with 2 electrons after losing 8 electrons, though such an ion is not commonly observed because neon is a noble gas with a stable electron configuration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The element that forms a X⁴⁺ ion containing 2 electrons is neon (Ne). Neon is a noble gas with an atomic number of 10, which means it has 10 electrons in its neutral state. To form a Ne⁴⁺ ion, it must lose 8 electrons, leaving it with 2. Therefore, the correct answer is d) Neon.
Looking at the periodic table and understanding the electron configurations of elements, we can determine that metals tend to lose electrons and form positive ions or cations, while nonmetals gain electrons to form negative ions or anions. In this case, since we are discussing an element that loses electrons to form a positive ion, and given the ionic charge of +4, we are looking for an element with a full outer shell that could theoretically lose electrons, even though in practice, neon does not readily form ions due to its stable electronic configuration.