To determine the number of electrons in a [tex]\( \text{Ni}^{2+} \)[/tex] ion, follow these steps:
1. Determine the Atomic Number of Nickel:
- The atomic number of nickel (Ni) is 28. This tells us that a neutral nickel atom has 28 electrons.
2. Understand the Charge on the Ion:
- The superscript [tex]\( 2+ \)[/tex] indicates that the nickel ion has lost 2 electrons.
3. Calculate the Number of Electrons in the Ion:
- Start with the number of electrons in a neutral atom of nickel, which is 28.
- Since the ion has lost 2 electrons, subtract 2 from 28.
[tex]\[ 28 - 2 = 26 \][/tex]
Therefore, a [tex]\( \text{Ni}^{2+} \)[/tex] ion has a total of 26 electrons.
