The number of electrons in the ion Fe³⁺ is 23. Let’s break it down:
Iron (Fe) has an atomic number of 26, which means it has 26 electrons in its neutral state. When the iron loses three electrons to form the Fe³⁺ ion, it has an overall positive charge of +3. This means that the iron has lost three of its electrons.
So, starting with 26 electrons and removing 3 gives us:
26 – 3 = 23
Therefore, when the question asks for the number of electrons in the Fe³⁺ ion, the correct answer is 23.