Answer:
Gallium (Ga) has an atomic number of 31, which means it has 31 protons and, under normal circumstances, 31 electrons (since an atom is typically neutral, meaning the number of protons and electrons are equal). However, the question is asking for the number of electrons in the Ga+3 ion.
When an atom loses or gains electrons, it becomes an ion. In this case, the Ga atom has lost three electrons, giving it a +3 charge. To determine the number of electrons in the Ga+3 ion, we need to subtract the charge from the number of electrons in a neutral Ga atom:
Number of electrons in Ga+3 ion = Number of electrons in neutral Ga atom - 3
Number of electrons in Ga+3 ion = 31 - 3
Number of electrons in Ga+3 ion = 28
Therefore, the Ga+3 ion has 28 electrons.
Step-by-step explanation: