How many electrons does the natural atom gain or lose when each ion is formed?

Question

Cu+

O2-

i need help with this these are just a few examples of what i need to finish

Answer 1

Easy my chemist! If it has a positive charge, it LOSES electrons (loses negative charge) and if it has a negative charge, it GAINS electrons.

So Cu+ is like losing one electron and O2- is gaining TWO electrons. Simple, eh?

Answer 2

Remember that electrons are positively charged and protons are negatively charged.

Atoms have equal numbers of protons and electrons, which is why they are neutral.

So, a copper atom, being number 29 on the Periodic table, has 29 protons and 29 electrons.

Likewise, an oxygen atom has 8 protons and 8 electrons.

In order for copper to have a positive 1 charge, which is what Cu+ represents, there must be 1 more proton than electron. Since atoms do not gain or lose protons, it must have lost 1 electron, giving it 29 protons and 28 electrons. Therefore, Cu+ was formed from losing 1 electron.

O2- was formed from the oxygen atom gaining 2 electrons, making it have 8 protons and 10 electrons.