Question

complete the ion symbol for the atom below.

Explanation:

Step1: Count protons (blue) and electrons (black)

Protons (blue): Let's count the blue spheres. From the image, we can see there are 7 blue spheres (protons), so atomic number \( Z = 7 \) (which is nitrogen, N).
Electrons (black): Count the black spheres (electrons). Let's count: looking at the dots, there are 8 electrons.

Step2: Determine charge and mass number

Mass number \( A \) = protons + neutrons. Neutrons (red): Let's count red spheres. From the nucleus, red spheres (neutrons) are, let's see, if protons are 7, and neutrons: let's count the red ones. Wait, maybe the nucleus has protons (blue) and neutrons (red). Let's recount protons: 7 (blue), neutrons: let's see, the red spheres: let's count, maybe 8? Wait, no, let's check again. Wait, the problem is about ion symbol. The ion symbol format is \( \ce{^{A}_{Z}X^{n+}} \) or \( \ce{^{A}_{Z}X^{n-}} \), where \( A \) is mass number (protons + neutrons), \( Z \) is atomic number (protons), \( X \) is element symbol, and \( n \) is charge (electrons - protons: if electrons > protons, negative charge; else positive).

Wait, protons (Z) = 7 (nitrogen, N). Electrons: 8. So charge is electrons - protons = 8 - 7 = -1. Mass number: protons (7) + neutrons (let's count red spheres: from the nucleus, red spheres: let's see, the blue are 7, red: let's count, maybe 8? Wait, maybe the nucleus has 7 protons (blue) and 8 neutrons (red)? Wait, no, maybe I miscounted. Wait, the image: nucleus has blue (protons) and red (neutrons). Let's count blue: 7, red: 8? Wait, no, let's check again. Wait, the electrons: the black dots around the nucleus: let's count. Let's see: top left, top, middle left, right middle, bottom right, bottom middle, left bottom, and another? Wait, maybe 8 electrons. So:

Atomic number \( Z = 7 \) (N), mass number \( A = 7 + 8 = 15 \) (if neutrons are 8), electrons = 8, so charge = 8 - 7 = -1. So the ion symbol is \( \ce{^{15}_{7}N^{-}} \)? Wait, no, maybe neutrons are 7? Wait, no, let's re-express.

Wait, maybe the protons are 7 (N), neutrons: let's count the red spheres. Let's see the nucleus: blue (protons) and red (neutrons). Let's count blue: 7, red: 8? So \( A = 7 + 8 = 15 \). Electrons: 8. So charge is \( 8 - 7 = -1 \). So the ion symbol is \( \ce{^{15}_{7}N^{-}} \), but maybe the mass number is 14? Wait, no, let's check again. Wait, maybe the electrons are 10? No, the dots: let's count the black dots. Let's list them:

Top row: 2 dots (left and right).
Middle row: left, right.
Bottom row: left, middle.
And two more? Wait, maybe 8. Let's assume:

Protons (Z) = 7 (N), neutrons (n) = 8 (so A = 15), electrons (e) = 8. Charge: e - Z = 8 - 7 = -1. So the ion is \( \ce{^{15}_{7}N^{-}} \), but maybe the mass number is 14? Wait, nitrogen-14 has 7 protons and 7 neutrons. If neutrons are 7, then A = 14. Electrons: 8, so charge -1. So \( \ce{^{14}_{7}N^{-}} \).

Wait, maybe the image has 7 protons (blue), 7 neutrons (red), and 8 electrons (black). So:

Z = 7 (N), A = 7 + 7 = 14, electrons = 8, charge = 8 - 7 = -1. So the ion symbol is \( \ce{^{14}_{7}N^{-}} \).

Step3: Write the ion symbol

The ion symbol format is \( \ce{^{A}_{Z}X^{charge}} \), where \( A \) is mass number, \( Z \) is atomic number, \( X \) is element symbol, and charge is \( n+ \) or \( n- \).

So \( A = 14 \), \( Z = 7 \), \( X = \ce{N} \), charge = \( -1 \) (since electrons = 8, protons = 7, so 8 - 7 = -1).

So the ion symbol is \( \ce{^{14}_{7}N^{-}} \). Wait, but maybe the mass number is 15? Let's recheck the neutrons. If the red spheres (neutrons) are 8, then A = 15. Let's count the red spheres: in the nucleus, blue (protons) are 7, red (neutrons) are 8? Let's see the image: the nucleus has blue and red spheres. Let's count blue: 7 (let's say: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7). Red: let's count, maybe 8. So A = 7 + 8 = 15. Then the ion is \( \ce{^{15}_{7}N^{-}} \).

But maybe the standard nitrogen ion is \( \ce{N^{3-}} \), but here electrons are 8, so charge -1. Wait, maybe I miscounted electrons. Let's count the black dots again. The image shows:

Top: 2 dots (left and right).
Middle left: 1, middle right: 1.
Bottom left: 1, bottom middle: 1.
And two more? Wait, maybe 8. So 8 electrons. Protons 7, so charge -1. Mass number: protons + neutrons. If neutrons are 8, A=15; if 7, A=14.

Assuming neutrons are 7 (since nitrogen-14 is common), then A=14. So the ion symbol is \( \ce{^{14}_{7}N^{-}} \).

Answer:

\( \ce{^{14}_{7}N^{-}} \) (or \( \ce{^{15}_{7}N^{-}} \) if neutrons are 8; but likely \( \ce{^{14}_{7}N^{-}} \) as nitrogen-14 is common)