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A neutral atom loses two electrons from its valence shell. What has it become?
AA cation carrying a 2+ charge
BAn anion carrying a 2- charge
CAn isotope with added mass
DA radical with a lone electron
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. A cation carrying a 2+ charge
1. Losing electrons leaves the particle with more protons than electrons, so it ends up positive.
2. A positive ion is a cation, and every electron lost adds one unit of positive charge.
3. Two electrons lost therefore leave a cation with a 2+ charge.
4. Gaining electrons would instead make an anion, so the negative option does not fit.
_Source: OpenStax Chemistry (CC BY 4.0), Chs 7 and 17, section 7.1 Ionic Bonding_
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