Question

14. from left to right across a period, what change is occurring within the atomic nuclei?

Answer 1

Answer:

A.) a proton is gained

Explanation:

A.) is correct. Protons are located in an atom's nucleus. As you travel to the right on a period, the elements are gaining more protons. For instance, magnesium, which is one space to the right of sodium, has one more proton than sodium.

B.) is incorrect. Like protons, as you travel to the right across a period, each element gains another electron. However, while the statement itself is true, electrons are not located in an atom's nucleus.

C.) is incorrect. Like protons, as you go across a period, the number of neutrons in the nucleus increases, not decreases.

D.) is incorrect. As noted in B.), the number of electrons in each element increases across the period. Therefore, as more electrons surround the nucleus, the electron cloud size increases.