Question

Which row describes the structure of the positive ion in sodium chloride?
a.) Protons = 11, electrons = 11, neutrons = 12
b.) Protons = 11, electrons = 10 , neutrons = 12
c.) Protons = 17, electrons = 17, neutrons = 18
d.) Protons = 17, electrons = 18, neutrons = 18

Answer 1

Hint: Sodium chloride (NaCl) is the combination of sodium ion ${ Na }^{ + }$ and chloride ion ${ Cl }^{ - }$ and commonly known as common salt or table salt.

Complete step by step solution:
${ NaCl\rightarrow Na }^{ + }{ +Cl }^{ - }$
Thus, the positive ion in sodium chloride is ${ Na }^{ + }$.
Thus, in ${ Na }^{ + }$:
Number of protons = ${ 11 }$
Number of electrons =${ 10 }$
Its mass number is ${ 23 }$.
Hence, the number of neutrons = Mass number - number of protons
                                                  = ${ 23 - 11 = 12 }$
Hence, the number of neutrons = ${ 12 }$.
So, the correct answer is “Option B”.

Additional Information:
Electrons are present outside the nucleus of an atom, protons are present in the nucleus of an atom and neutrons are also present in the nucleus of an atom.
Protons are positively charged, electrons are negatively charged and neutrons are neutral.
The mass of an electron is considered to be negligible, the mass of a proton is approximate ${ 2000 }$ times the mass of an electron, and the mass of a neutron is nearly equal to the mass of the proton.
The mass number of an element is defined as the total number of protons and neutrons present in the nucleus of the atom of that element and it is always a whole number.

Note: The possibility to make a mistake is that the positively charged cation means an electron is less than the neutral atom and if negatively charged anion means an electron more than present in a neutral atom.