what happens when an atom loses an electron

ATI TEAS 7

TEAS 7 practice test science

1. What happens when an atom loses an electron?

A. It forms a molecule.
B. It gains a positive charge and becomes an ion.
C. It alters its elemental identity.
D. No change occurs; it remains neutral.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When an atom loses an electron, it gains a positive charge and becomes an ion. This occurs because the number of protons in the atom exceeds the number of electrons, leading to a positive charge. Therefore, the atom undergoes a transformation into an ion by losing an electron. Choice A is incorrect because losing an electron does not result in the formation of a molecule, as molecules are made up of bonded atoms. Choice C is incorrect because losing an electron does not change the fundamental identity of the atom; it only changes its charge. Choice D is incorrect because losing an electron causes the atom to become positively charged, altering its neutrality.

2. In ecology, what defines a closed system?

A. Exchanges energy but not matter
B. Exchanges both energy and matter
C. Exchanges neither energy nor matter
D. Recycles nutrients efficiently

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In ecology, a closed system is one that does not exchange matter with its surroundings but can exchange energy. This means that while energy can enter or leave the system, the amount of matter within the system remains constant. Option A correctly defines a closed system in ecology. Choices B and C are incorrect as a closed system does not exchange matter or energy. Option D is unrelated to the concept of a closed system in ecology.

3. What happens to the force of gravity between two objects when the distance between them is doubled?

A. The force increases by a factor of 2
B. The force increases by a factor of 4
C. The force decreases by a factor of 2
D. The force decreases by a factor of 4

Correct answer: D

Rationale: According to the law of universal gravitation, the force of gravity between two objects is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. When the distance is doubled, the force decreases by a factor of 2 squared, which is 4. Therefore, the force decreases by a factor of 4. Choice A is incorrect because the force doesn't increase when the distance is doubled. Choice B is incorrect as the force doesn't increase but actually decreases. Choice C is incorrect as the force decreases by a factor of 4, not 2.

4. An uncharged atom has an electron configuration of 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² and a mass number of 14. How many protons does it have?

A. 14
B. 6
C. 8
D. 12

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The number of protons in an atom is determined by the atomic number, which is equal to the number of protons in the nucleus. The electron configuration given corresponds to carbon (C) with 6 protons. The atomic number of an element is the same as the number of protons in its nucleus, so in this case, the atom has 6 protons. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not correspond to the correct number of protons for an atom with the given electron configuration and mass number. Therefore, option B, 6 protons, is the correct answer.

5. Which statement most accurately compares and contrasts the structures of DNA and RNA?

A. Both DNA and RNA have 4 nucleotide bases. Three of the bases are the same, but the fourth base is thymine in DNA and uracil in RNA.
B. Both DNA and RNA have the same 4 nucleotide bases. However, the nucleotides bond differently in DNA compared to RNA.
C. Both DNA and RNA have different numbers of nucleotide bases. DNA is a double helix while RNA is a single strand.
D. Both DNA and RNA have a double helix structure. However, DNA contains 6 nucleotide bases and RNA contains 4 nucleotide bases.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because DNA and RNA both consist of 4 nucleotide bases, namely adenine, cytosine, and guanine, which are common in both. The key difference lies in the fourth base, which is thymine in DNA and uracil in RNA. This distinction is fundamental in understanding the structural variances between DNA and RNA. Choice B is incorrect as it incorrectly states that the nucleotides bond differently in DNA compared to RNA without specifying the crucial base differences. Choice C is inaccurate as it misrepresents the numbers of nucleotide bases in DNA and RNA, and incorrectly describes DNA as a double helix and RNA as a single strand, which is not related to the difference in bases. Choice D is incorrect as it inaccurately portrays DNA with 6 nucleotide bases and RNA with 4, which is not true; both DNA and RNA have 4 nucleotide bases, but with differences in one of the bases.