Question

When a Gold (Au) atom loses 2 protons, ______. Select 2 that Apply.



a
the atom will have 2 electrons less
b
It will become a different element
c
the atom will become unstable
d
its atomic mass will reduce by 2.
When a Gold (Au) atom loses 2 protons, ______. Select 2 that Apply.



a
the atom will have 2 electrons less
b
It will become a different element
c
the atom will become unstable
d
its atomic mass will reduce by 2.

Answer 1

Correct answers: b and d.

- b) Changing the number of protons changes the element (gold with 2 fewer protons would become a different element).
- d) Removing 2 protons reduces the nucleus mass by about 2 atomic mass units (protons carry mass).

(a is wrong because losing protons is not the same as losing electrons; the electron count needn't change. c is not necessarily true — the nucleus might or might not become unstable depending on details).