Give the number of electrons in Na^+1

Question

Group of answer choices

A. 12

B. 11

C. 13

D. 10

E. 9

Answer 1

Hi, Carolann,

Sodium's atomic number is 11. A neutral atom, Na, would have 11 electrons. But this is Na⁺¹. The "+1" tells us that it is missing one electron. The positive charge results from there being more protons than electrons. Since each electron has a "-1" charge, one electron has left the sodium atom. So it now has 10 electrons.

Bob