Question

how does an atom change if all of its electrons are removed?
the atoms volume increases.
the atoms mass increases.
the atom becomes positively charged.
the atom becomes negatively charged.

Explanation:

1. Recall the structure of an atom: An atom consists of a nucleus (containing protons and neutrons) and electrons surrounding the nucleus. Protons are positively charged, electrons are negatively charged, and neutrons are neutral. In a neutral atom, the number of protons (positive charge) equals the number of electrons (negative charge).
2. Analyze the effect of removing all electrons:

• Volume: Electrons occupy the electron cloud around the nucleus. Removing electrons would make the atom's volume decrease significantly, so the option "The atom’s volume increases" is incorrect.
• Mass: The mass of an electron is very small compared to protons and neutrons (mass of electron ≈ 1/1836 of proton mass). Removing electrons would cause a negligible decrease in mass, not an increase, so "The atom’s mass increases" is incorrect.
• Charge: If all electrons (negative charges) are removed, the atom is left with only the positively charged protons in the nucleus (and neutral neutrons). So the net charge of the atom becomes positive (since there are more positive charges from protons than negative charges, and now there are no negative charges from electrons). Thus, "The atom becomes positively charged" is correct.
• "The atom becomes negatively charged" is incorrect because removing negative - charged electrons would not make the atom negative; it would lose negative charges, leading to a positive charge.

Answer:

The atom becomes positively charged.