The species containing 6 protons and 5 electrons (and some number of neutrons) would be written as:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The atomic number of an element is determined by the number of protons it contains. Therefore, the species containing 6 protons must be carbon (choice A). However, carbon has 6 electrons, not 5. So this species must have gained an extra electron to become an ion with a -1 charge. The symbol for an ion with a -1 charge would have a superscript of 1- (e.g. C1-). The options B and C both have symbols that include S, which represents sulfur, a different element with 16 protons. Therefore, the correct answer is choice D, C⁺, which represents a carbon ion with a -1 charge.

The Species Containing 6 Protons and 5 Electrons (And Some