Question

State whether the following statements are true or false :
(a) A sodium ion has positive charge because it has more protons than a neutral atom.
(b) A chloride ion has negative charge because it has more electrons than a neutral atom.

Answer 1

(a) False

Explanation: A sodium ion carries a positive charge because it has less number of electrons than a neutral atom.

In giving up an electron, the sodium atom has lost a negative electrical charge. It still has all its positively charged protons, so the remaining structure is no longer electrically neutral. It has a net positive charge (+).

A sodium atom can lose its outer electron. It will still have 11 positive protons but only 10 negative electrons. So, the overall charge is +1. A positive sign is added to the symbol for sodium, $N{a}^{+}$.

(b) True

Explanation: A chloride ion carries a negative charge because it has more electrons than a neutral atom.

Chlorine gains an electron, leaving it with 17 protons and 18 electrons. Since it has 1 more electron than protons, chlorine has a charge of −1, making it a negative ion($C{l}^{-}$)