The largest neutral atom you can build from the options provided is neon (Ne). Neon has an atomic number of 10, meaning it contains 10 protons and, in its neutral state, also 10 electrons. It typically has 10 neutrons in its most abundant isotope (neon-20). This makes it larger than the other atoms listed:
- Fluorine (F) has an atomic number of 9 (9 protons, 9 electrons).
- Sodium (Na) has an atomic number of 11 (11 protons, 11 electrons).
- Magnesium (Mg) has an atomic number of 12 (12 protons, 12 electrons).
Between sodium and magnesium, although sodium has a higher atomic number than fluorine, magnesium has a larger atomic number than both sodium and fluorine. However, in the context of neutral atoms built from those choices, neon is still the largest in terms of the number of electrons, neutrons, and protons available from the options provided.
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