An Ion of Phosphorus Has a -3 Charge

question 38

Multiple Choice

An ion of phosphorus has a -3 charge. Which of the following is true?

• A)It is a cation.
• B)It contains more protons than electrons.
• C)It contains 18 electrons.
• D)It contains 12 protons.

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Definitions:

Protons

Positively charged subatomic particles found in the nucleus of an atom, determining the atomic number of an element.

Electrons

Subatomic particles with a negative charge, orbiting the nucleus of atoms and playing a key role in chemical reactions and electricity.

Proton Acceptor

A chemical entity that receives protons (hydrogen ions) in a chemical reaction, often measured in the context of acid-base chemistry.

Covalent Bond

The chemical bond involving shared pairs of electrons; may be single, double, or triple (with one, two, or three shared pairs of electrons, respectively). Compare with ionic bond and hydrogen bond.