If element X has 23 protons, how many electrons does it have?

Question

Physics

Ruffles

25 March, 19:29

If element X has 23 protons, how many electrons does it have?

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Answers (2)

Know the Answer?

Gretel · Answer 1

The element X has 23 electrons.

Explanation:

We are given an element X. We are to find out if this element X has 23 protons then how many electrons would it have.

We know that the number of protons is equal to the atomic number (the big number by the atom on the periodic table) so the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons.

Therefore, element X will have 23 protons as well as 23 electrons.

Sergio · Answer 2

Hello!

Answer:

If we are talking about an electrically neutral atom, it has 23 electrons.

Why?

An electrically neutral atom has the same number of protons (positive charge) and electrons (negative charge).

When an atom has more protons than electrons, it's called positive ion (cation), it's an ion with a positive charge.

When an atom has more electrons than protons, it's called negative ion (anion), it's an ion with a negative charge.