Charge of Radon Nucleus: 86 Protons -1.6x10^-19 C

In summary, The total charge of the radon nucleus is 86 protons times -1.6x10^-19 C, which is the charge on an electron. However, be careful of the signs (+ and -) when calculating the charge.
  • #1
poteat86
5
0
Hi, this problem is killing me.

What is the total charge of the radon nucleus? (The neutral radon atom has 86 electrons.)

The units is in Coulombs so I figured since they were asking for the charge of just the nucleus then it would be 86 protons times -1.6x10^-19 C. But that didn't work, I've tried every answer I can think of but it isn't working. (its like an online homework thing...i have only a few tries left and i need this answer to continue the rest) Please please help! Thanks!
 
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  • #2
oh my god, sorry i didn't see that sticky about hw. I'll post somewhere else...sorry!
 
  • #3
-1.6x10^-19 C is the charge on an electron.

A proton is positively charged, and if there are 86 of them, then 86 * the charge of one proton is correct.

Be careful of + and -.
 

1. How is the charge of a radon nucleus determined?

The charge of a radon nucleus is determined by the number of protons it contains. In this case, the radon nucleus has 86 protons, each with a charge of +1.6x10^-19 C. Therefore, the total charge of the radon nucleus is 86 times the charge of a single proton.

2. Is the charge of a radon nucleus positive or negative?

The charge of a radon nucleus is positive, since it contains 86 positively charged protons and no negatively charged particles.

3. How does the charge of a radon nucleus affect its stability?

The charge of a radon nucleus does not directly affect its stability. However, the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus can impact its stability. In general, nuclei with a higher ratio of neutrons to protons tend to be more stable.

4. How does the charge of a radon nucleus compare to other elements?

The charge of a radon nucleus (86) is relatively high, as radon is a heavy element. However, there are other elements with higher charges, such as uranium, which has 92 protons in its nucleus.

5. Can the charge of a radon nucleus change?

The charge of a radon nucleus can change through processes such as radioactive decay, where it can lose or gain protons. However, the number of protons in a nucleus is a defining characteristic of an element, so any changes in charge would result in a different element.

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