The number of protons in an anion must always be ________ the number of electrons.


the same as
We can’t tell.
less than
greater than

Rachel/Sarah -- please use the same name for your posts.

An anion has a - charge.

Example
9 electrons = -9 charge
9 protons = +9 charge
-------------------------
neutral atom = 0 charge
So to make an anion, one must have (more/fewer) protons.

The number of protons in an anion must always be less than the number of electrons.

The number of protons in an anion is always greater than the number of electrons.

To understand why, let's first define what an anion is. An anion is a negatively charged ion, meaning it has gained one or more electrons. An atom becomes an anion when it gains electrons, which in turn increases its negative charge.

The number of protons in an atom determines its atomic number and its identity as an element. Protons carry a positive charge, while electrons carry a negative charge. In a neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons.

However, when an atom gains electrons to become an anion, the number of electrons increases, while the number of protons remains the same. This causes an imbalance in the positive and negative charges, resulting in a net negative charge for the anion.

So, to answer the question, the number of protons in an anion is always greater than the number of electrons.