chromatography...etc?

Question

Question: Which of the following processes can be used to separate the mixture of dyes in brown smarties?

a) chromatography
b) filtration
c) distillation
d) evaporation
e) decantation

Note: I think the answer is a, chromatography. Is this correct?

Question 2:
The ancients were able to convert certain blue and green rocks into copper. Is this the same process as changing ice into water? Explain.

Note: How would I write about 2 or 3 sentences on this? This is a chemical process not a physical process such as changing ice into water. Is this correct?

Question 3:
When the calcium atom forms its ion
a) the mass number is unchanged
b) it gains two electrons
c) it loses two electrons
d) it achieves the electronic configuration of neon
e) it loses two protons

Question 4:
If an atom of an element has 69 neutrons and 50 electrons, its mass number is
a) 119
b) 69
c) 50
d) 19
e) none of these

Thanks for your help.

I know that mass number of a given atom is the total number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of the atom.

Answer 1

1--I would say chromatography. It separates pigments, and dyes are pigments.

2--I would agree with you. Changing the rocks into copper alters the chemical composition, a chemical process. Ice--> water is not chemical--ice is still water no matter what state it is in.

3--Ca ion is +2, so it loses 2 electrons (loses 2 negative charges makes it more positive). C.

4--The atomic number is the number of protons. You don't have this number given to you, but if the atom is neutral, it should have 50 protons to balance out the 50 negative charges. Thus, the mass number should be 50+69, which would give you 119 (A). This is the question that I am least sure of, though (I never was good at this stuff when I was in Chem), so I'd check into this one more. But I'm pretty sure of the other ones.

Good luck!