To determine the number of electrons in a Magnesium atom, we need to consider the atomic number of Magnesium. The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of that element. For a neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons to balance the electrical charge.
Given that the atomic number of Magnesium is 12, it means that:
- There are 12 protons in the nucleus of a Magnesium atom.
- Since the atom is neutral, the number of electrons must also be equal to the number of protons to ensure that the charges balance out.
Therefore, a neutral Magnesium atom has 12 electrons.
Given the options:
a) 18 electrons
b) Six electrons
c) 12 electrons
d) 24 electrons
The correct answer is:
c) 12 electrons
