Question

1. in a reading, you come across a lithium atom represented as li+. a * 1 point neutral atom of lithium has 3 protons. what can you infer about the number and type of subatomic particles present in li+? this lithium atom has gained an electron, so it now has 3 protons and 4 electrons. this lithium atom has lost an electron, so it now has 3 protons and 2 electrons. this lithium atom has gained a proton, so it now has 4 protons and 3 electrons. this lithium atom has lost a proton, so it now has 2 protons and 3 electrons.

Explanation:

A neutral atom has equal number of protons and electrons. A positive ion (\(Li^{+}\)) forms when an atom loses an electron. Protons in \(Li\) remain 3 (as proton number defines the element). So, if neutral \(Li\) has 3 electrons (equal to 3 protons), \(Li^{+}\) has \(3 - 1=2\) electrons.

Answer:

This lithium atom has lost an electron, so it now has 3 protons and 2 electrons.