The chemical symbol for the element calcium is Ca. What would be the symbol representing calcium atoms that
Ca
[tex]Ca ^{+}[/tex]
[tex]Ca ^{-2}[/tex]
[tex]Ca ^{+2}[/tex]
Answer (2)
The symbol representing calcium atoms is Ca , which signifies a neutral calcium atom. The other symbols ( C a + , C a − 2 , C a + 2 ) represent ions with charges due to the loss or gain of electrons. Therefore, the chosen option is Ca .
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A neutral calcium atom is represented by its chemical symbol, Ca.
C a + represents a calcium ion with a +1 charge (loss of one electron).
C a − 2 represents a calcium ion with a -2 charge (gain of two electrons).
C a + 2 represents a calcium ion with a +2 charge (loss of two electrons).
Therefore, the symbol representing a calcium atom is C a .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem The problem asks us to identify the symbol that represents a calcium atom. We are given four options: Ca, C a + , C a − 2 , and C a + 2 .
Identifying the Correct Symbol A neutral atom of an element is represented by its chemical symbol. In this case, the chemical symbol for calcium is Ca. The other options represent calcium ions, which are calcium atoms that have either lost or gained electrons, resulting in a net charge.
Understanding the Other Options C a + represents a calcium ion with a +1 charge. This means the calcium atom has lost one electron. C a − 2 represents a calcium ion with a -2 charge. This means the calcium atom has gained two electrons. C a + 2 represents a calcium ion with a +2 charge. This means the calcium atom has lost two electrons.
Final Answer Since the question asks for the symbol representing calcium atoms , it is referring to neutral calcium. Therefore, the correct symbol is Ca.
Examples
In the human body, calcium exists in different forms. Calcium atoms (Ca) are neutral and are the basic building blocks. However, calcium also exists as ions, such as C a + 2 , which are crucial for various biological processes like muscle contraction and nerve function. Understanding the difference between the neutral atom and its ionic forms is essential in fields like biology and medicine to comprehend how calcium participates in these processes.
