Question

A simple ion with a \(3+\) charge (for example, \(\mathrm{Al}^{3+}\) ) A simple ion with a \(3+\) charge (for example, \(\mathrm{Al}^{3+}\) ) _________ electrons.

Short answer

A simple ion with a \(3+\) charge (for example, \(\mathrm{Al}^{3+}\)) has 10 electrons.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the element and its atomic number

In this case, the given element is Aluminum (Al). The atomic number of Aluminum is 13, which represents the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom. In a neutral atom, the number of protons and electrons are the same. So a neutral Aluminum atom has 13 electrons.

Determine the ion

The given ion has a 3+ charge, which is represented as \(\mathrm{Al}^{3+}\). This means that the ion has 3 more protons than electrons, making it positively charged.

Find the number of electrons in the ion

Since a neutral Aluminum atom has 13 electrons and the ion has a 3+ charge, we need to remove 3 electrons to reflect the extra positive charges. Number of electrons in \(\mathrm{Al}^{3+}\) = Number of electrons in a neutral Aluminum atom - 3 Number of electrons in \(\mathrm{Al}^{3+}\) = 13 - 3 Number of electrons in \(\mathrm{Al}^{3+}\) = 10 So, a simple ion with a 3+ charge (for example, \(\mathrm{Al}^{3+}\)) has 10 electrons.

Key concepts

Aluminum Ion

When we talk about an 'Aluminum ion', specifically with a 3+ charge, we're referring to an atom of aluminum that has lost three of its electrons. Aluminum itself is a lightweight metal known for its strength and used in a wide array of industrial applications. In its ionic form, denoted as \(\mathrm{Al}^{3+}\), it is crucial in many chemical reactions, especially in ionic compounds.

Why does aluminum form a 3+ ion? Aluminum is in group 13 of the periodic table, and typically, atoms 'want' to have a full outer electron shell. To achieve this, aluminum will lose three electrons to emulate the stable electronic arrangement of its nearest noble gas, which is Neon. This results in the aluminum atom having a positive charge since it now contains 13 protons (positively charged particles) and only 10 electrons (negatively charged particles), making it an aluminum ion with a 3+ charge.

Atomic Number

The 'atomic number' of an element is a fundamental concept in chemistry that refers to the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of the element. Every atom of a particular element has the same atomic number, which is why this number can be used to differentiate between various elements on the periodic table.

For instance, Aluminum has an atomic number of 13, which means that each aluminum atom has 13 protons in its nucleus. It's essential to understand that the atomic number is also the number of electrons in a neutral atom. However, when that atom becomes an ion, the number of electrons changes, while the number of protons—and thus the atomic number—remains constant. This is the reason why the aluminum ion still has an atomic number of 13, even though it only has 10 electrons.

Protons and Electrons

The relationship between 'protons and electrons' is what determines the electrical charge of an atom. Protons carry a positive charge, whereas electrons carry a negative charge. In a neutral atom, the numbers of protons and electrons are equal, leading to a net charge of zero.

In the context of ions like \(\mathrm{Al}^{3+}\), which we've discussed earlier, the aluminum atom loses three electrons, thus becoming positively charged. The ionic charge communicates the difference in the total number of protons and electrons. With the aluminum ion, there are now 13 protons but only 10 electrons. This deficiency of three electrons gives it the 3+ positive charge. It is critical for students to grasp this concept because it lays the groundwork for understanding chemical bonds, reactivity, and the behavior of elements in various states.