Question

if you know only the following information can you always determine what the element is? (yes/no). a. number of protons __________ b. number of neutrons________ c. number of electrons in a neutral atom________ d. number of electrons__________

Explanation:

Step1: Recall element - defining property

The atomic number (number of protons) defines an element. Different elements have different numbers of protons.

Step2: Analyze number of protons

If we know the number of protons, we can always determine the element as each element has a unique atomic number. So for the number of protons, the answer is Yes.

Step3: Analyze number of neutrons

Isotopes of an element have different numbers of neutrons. So just knowing the number of neutrons is not enough to determine the element. The answer is No.

Step4: Analyze electrons in neutral atom

In a neutral atom, the number of electrons equals the number of protons. So if we know the number of electrons in a neutral atom, we can determine the element. The answer is Yes.

Step5: Analyze number of electrons

If the atom is not neutral (charged ion), knowing the number of electrons is not sufficient as the number of electrons can change due to gaining or losing electrons. The answer is No.

Answer:

a. Yes
b. No
c. Yes
d. No