Sure! To determine how many electrons are associated with a sodium (Na) atom that has a net charge of +1, we need to follow these steps:
1. Identify the atomic number of sodium (Na):
Sodium has an atomic number of 11. This means a neutral sodium atom has 11 protons and, consequently, 11 electrons (because the number of protons equals the number of electrons in a neutral atom).
2. Understand the net charge:
A net charge of +1 means the sodium atom has lost one electron. Atoms are neutral when the number of protons equals the number of electrons. If the atom loses an electron, it becomes positively charged by the amount equal to the loss. Here, losing one electron gives the sodium atom a +1 charge.
3. Calculate the number of remaining electrons:
Since a neutral sodium atom has 11 electrons and it loses 1 electron to form a +1 ion, the number of remaining electrons is:
11 (initial electrons) - 1 (lost electron) = 10 electrons
Therefore, a sodium atom with a net charge of +1 has 10 electrons.
So, the correct answer is:
C. 10
