P^2- is it atom or ion

How many number of protons and electrons

The notation "P^2-" indicates that the species has a charge of -2. In this case, P represents the element phosphorus.

Phosphorus normally has an atomic number of 15, which means it has 15 protons in its nucleus. However, the -2 charge indicates that it has gained 2 extra electrons.

Therefore, the P^2- species is an ion, specifically an anion, as it has gained extra electrons. It has 15 protons and 17 electrons.

The term "P^2-" refers to an ion called the oxide ion. It is an anion with a charge of -2.

To determine the number of protons and electrons in an atom or ion, we need to know the atomic number of the element. For example, if we are considering oxygen (O) as the element corresponding to the oxide ion (O^2-), its atomic number is 8.

An atom of oxygen has 8 protons and 8 electrons because the number of protons in an atom is equal to its atomic number. However, in the oxide ion (O^2-), there are two additional electrons, giving it a total of 10 electrons. The extra electrons are gained when oxygen accepts two electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration.