What is the mass difference between sodium ion vs. sodium atom?
Wouldn't it be one electron?
Take a ruler and measure the height of the textbook three times. Record the three measurements, and discuss the uncertainty in your measurements. Remember to report the smallest markings on your ruler.
To determine the mass difference between a sodium ion and a sodium atom, we need to understand the atomic structure of sodium.
A sodium atom consists of a nucleus containing 11 protons and usually 12 neutrons, surrounded by 11 electrons. The atomic number of sodium is 11, which means it has 11 protons in its nucleus.
On the other hand, a sodium ion is formed when a sodium atom loses or gains electrons. For example, a sodium ion with a positive charge (Na+) is formed when a sodium atom loses one electron, resulting in 10 electrons.
To calculate the mass difference, we need to know the atomic masses of sodium atom and sodium ion. The atomic mass is the sum of the masses of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an atom.
The atomic mass of sodium (Na) is approximately 22.99 atomic mass units (amu). This value is an average based on the isotopes of sodium found in nature.
Since a sodium ion (Na+) has one less electron than a sodium atom, its mass will be very slightly lower. However, the mass difference between a sodium atom and a sodium ion is very small and difficult to measure directly.
Therefore, we can conclude that the mass difference between a sodium ion (Na+) and a sodium atom (Na) is negligible or almost zero.