Composition of the nuclei of two atomic species A and B are given below:
A B
Protons 11 17
Neutron 12 18
(a) State the mass numbers of A and B
(b) What is the charge on the ions formed by atoms A and B?
(c) Write the formula when A reacts with B.
Explanation:
(a) mass number = atomic number + number of neutrons
(the atomic number is the number of protons of an element)
mass number of A = 11 + 12 = 23
mass number of B = 17 + 18 = 35
(b) +1 and -1, respectively
(c) A+ + B- → AB (the first plus sign and the minus sign are superscripts)