73.6k views
1 vote
A calcium atom differs from a calcium ion in that the atom has a greater

A)
number of electrons

B)
number of protons

C)
atomic number

D)
mass number



User Hanifah
by
5.4k points

1 Answer

2 votes

Answer:

A) number of electrons

Step-by-step explanation:

A calcium atom has 20 electrons while a calcium ion has 18 electrons since it loses 2 electrons to form a stable octet structure. The formula of a calcium ion is Ca2+.

The number of protons does not change, neither do the number of neutrons. Atomic number is the proton number which is equals to the number of protons, hence B and C is wrong. Mass number is the number of protons and neutrons. Hence it doesnt change too and D is wrong.

Only the number of electrons change when an atom forms an ion.

A calcium atom differs from a calcium ion in that the atom has a greater A) number-example-1
User Jitendra Kumar
by
5.2k points