An ion with a +3 positive charge has 10 electrons and a mass number of 27. How many neutro… — Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

An ion with a $+3$ positive charge has $10$ electrons and a mass number of $27$ . How many neutrons are located inside the nucleus of this ion?

Answer: 14 neutrons

14 neutrons

For any atom or ion, the mass number equals the total count of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. Because this ion has a

+3

charge and

10

electrons, it must contain

13

protons (

10 + 3

). Subtracting

13

protons from the mass number of

27

gives exactly

14

neutrons.

Calculate the atomic number (number of protons) using the ion's charge and electron count.

The atom has

13

protons.

A positive charge (

+3

) indicates that the atom has lost

3

electrons relative to its proton count. Therefore,

\text{Protons} = \text{Electrons} + \text{Charge} = 10 + 3 = 13

Calculate the number of neutrons using the mass number and the proton count.

The nucleus contains

14

neutrons.

Mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons (

A = Z + N

). Thus,

\text{Neutrons} = \text{Mass Number} - \text{Protons} = 27 - 13 = 14

Relationship between mass number, atomic number (protons), net ionic charge, and subatomic particle counts.

Estimated Time:1m 0s

Question