Question

An atom has eight protons. what would need to happen for the atom to have an overall charge of 2

Answer 1

If it has 8 protons this means that it also has 8 electrons, for it to have a charge of 2+ it would have to lose 2 electrons.

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

It is known that when an atom is neutral in nature then it holds same number of protons and electrons.

For example, an atom that has eight protons will be having eight electrons.

So, in order to complete its octet this atom needs two more electrons. Hence, it will readily accept two electrons from an electron rich atom.

Therefore, by gaining two electrons it will acquire a charge of -2.

Therefore, we can conclude that if an atom has eight protons. Then gain of two electrons would need to happen for the atom to have an overall charge of 2.