A neutral atom lost one or more particles.Before this loss, the atom had a mass of 15.99491 Da, and it was not influenced by an electric field.After this loss, the atom had a mass of 15.99440 Da, and its movement was diverted by an electric field.What particle(s) did the atom lose?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Since the atom was neutral before the loss and was not influenced by an electric field, it could not lose a proton. The decrease in mass indicates that a particle with a mass of approximately 0.00051 Da was lost. This matches the mass of an electron, therefore, the best choice is C, one electron. The diversion by an electric field indicates that the atom has become charged, which also supports the loss of an electron.

A Neutral Atom Lost One or More Particles