Select all correct answers. An oxygen atom has 8 protons and 8 neutrons. This means that
A. the atomic number of oxygen is 8
B. oxygen has 8 electrons
C. the atomic mass of oxygen is 16
D. oxygen has 16 electrons
E. the atomic number of oxygen is 16
F. the atomic mass of oxygen is 8
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answers are:
A. the atomic number of oxygen is 8
B. oxygen has 8 electrons
C. the atomic mass of oxygen is 16
Here’s a detailed explanation:
A. The atomic number of oxygen is 8
The atomic number of an element is determined by the number of protons in the nucleus of its atoms. Since the question specifies that an oxygen atom has 8 protons, the atomic number of oxygen is indeed 8. This is a fundamental property of the element oxygen on the periodic table.
B. Oxygen has 8 electrons
In a neutral atom, the number of electrons equals the number of protons to balance the electrical charges. Since oxygen has 8 protons, it also has 8 electrons when it is neutral. This balance ensures that the atom has no overall electric charge.
C. The atomic mass of oxygen is 16
The atomic mass of an element is approximately equal to the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus because these are the heavier subatomic particles (electrons have much less mass). With 8 protons and 8 neutrons, the atomic mass of oxygen is 8 (protons) + 8 (neutrons) = 16. This value is the mass number of the most common isotope of oxygen.
Regarding the incorrect options:
- D. Oxygen has 16 electrons is incorrect because a neutral oxygen atom only has 8 electrons, as explained above.
- E. The atomic number of oxygen is 16 is incorrect because the atomic number is determined by the number of protons, which is 8.
- F. The atomic mass of oxygen is 8 is incorrect because this value disregards the neutrons, which also contribute significantly to the atomic mass.
Let’s generate an image to visually represent the structure of an oxygen atom with its subatomic particles.
Here’s the illustration of an oxygen atom, showing 8 protons, 8 neutrons, and 8 electrons. This visual representation can help you understand the basic structure of an oxygen atom, aligning with the explanations provided earlier regarding atomic number and atomic mass.
