Chapter AS, Problem 10PQ

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The difference between sodium ion and sodium atom has to be determined.

Concept Introduction:

An atom is considered to be fundamental unit of any matter that is further composed of 3 subatomic particles: electrons, protons, neutrons.

Electrons are negatively charged, protons are positively charged and neutrons are neutral. The number of protons or electrons comprise atomic number of an element whereas sum of protons and neutrons comprise the atomic mass of an element.

An atom $\text{X}$ with its atomic number and atomic mass is represented as follows:

  ${}_{\text{Z}}^{\text{A}}\text{X}$

Here,

  $\text{Z}$ is atomic number of an atom.

  $\text{A}$ is atomic mass of an atom.

An atom when has difference in the number of proton and electron, it doesn’t remain neutral anymore and an ion is formed.