To determine the ion formed by tellurium (Te) when it has 54 electrons, we first need to understand its atomic structure. Tellurium has an atomic number of 52, which means it has 52 protons in its nucleus. The number of protons in an atom defines the element, while the number of electrons determines its charge.
When an atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes an ion. In this case, if tellurium has 54 electrons, it has gained 2 extra electrons compared to its neutral state. This results in a negative charge. Therefore, the ion formed is Te2-.
To summarize, the tellurium ion with 54 electrons has:
- Number of protons: 52
- Charge of the ion: 2-