The minimum charge on an ion is-a)equal to the atomic number of the a...
Since the electron’s charge (considered negative by convention) is equal and opposite to that of the proton (considered positive by convention), the net charge of an ion is non-zero due to its total number of electrons being unequal to its total number of protons.
Hence, the correct option is (B)
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The minimum charge on an ion is-a)equal to the atomic number of the a...
Minimum Charge on an Ion
The minimum charge on an ion is the smallest possible charge that an ion can have. This charge is determined by the number of electrons that the ion has gained or lost.
Basic Concepts
Before we dive into the answer, let's review some basic concepts related to ions and their charges:
- An ion is an atom or molecule that has a net electrical charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.
- A cation is a positively charged ion, which is formed when an atom loses one or more electrons.
- An anion is a negatively charged ion, which is formed when an atom gains one or more electrons.
- The charge of an ion is equal to the number of electrons lost or gained.
Answer
The correct answer to this question is option B, which states that the minimum charge on an ion is equal to the charge of an electron.
Explanation
The reason for this is that when an atom gains or loses electrons to form an ion, the charge on the ion is determined by the number of electrons gained or lost. Since the charge on an electron is -1, the minimum charge on an ion can be -1 if it gains an electron or +1 if it loses an electron.
Therefore, the minimum charge on an ion is always equal to the charge of an electron, which is -1.
Conclusion
In summary, the minimum charge on an ion is determined by the number of electrons it gains or loses. The charge on an electron is -1, so the minimum charge on an ion is always equal to the charge of an electron.