What Element Has 7 Protons, 8 Neutrons, and 10 Electrons?
The number of protons in an atom's nucleus defines the element. An atom with 7 protons is always nitrogen (N). However, the information about neutrons and electrons tells us something more about the specific isotope and ion of nitrogen. Let's break down each part:
Protons: Defining the Element
The atomic number, which is the number of protons, is the fundamental identifier of an element. Nitrogen, with its 7 protons, is unique and distinct from all other elements on the periodic table. This is unchanging; it's what makes nitrogen, nitrogen.
Neutrons: Isotopes of Nitrogen
The number of neutrons in an atom's nucleus determines the isotope of that element. Most nitrogen atoms have 7 neutrons, making them Nitrogen-14 (¹⁴N). However, this atom has 8 neutrons, making it Nitrogen-15 (¹⁵N). Isotopes are variants of the same element with different numbers of neutrons, thus having different mass numbers (protons + neutrons). Both ¹⁴N and ¹⁵N are naturally occurring isotopes of nitrogen.
Electrons: Ions of Nitrogen
The number of electrons determines the charge of the atom or ion. A neutral nitrogen atom has 7 electrons to balance the 7 protons. This atom, however, has 10 electrons. This means it has 3 extra electrons, giving it a net negative charge of -3. This makes it a nitride anion, specifically represented as N³⁻.
In summary: The element is nitrogen, but it's specifically the Nitrogen-15 isotope existing as a -3 nitride anion (N³⁻). The number of protons identifies the element, the number of neutrons identifies the isotope, and the number of electrons defines the charge (ion) of the atom.
