Question

this beryllium atom is a negative ion. it has 4 protons, 4 neutrons, and 6 electrons. what is the total charge of this ion? -2 -4 +2 +1

Explanation:

Step1: Determine charge of protons

Protons have a charge of +1 each. There are 4 protons, so total proton - charge is $4\times(+ 1)=+4$.

Step2: Determine charge of electrons

Electrons have a charge of -1 each. There are 6 electrons, so total electron - charge is $6\times(-1)=-6$.

Step3: Determine total charge

Total charge of the ion is sum of proton - charge and electron - charge. Neutrons have no charge and are not considered. So, total charge is $(+4)+(-6)=-2$.

Answer:

-2