How many total electrons are in the Pb^4+ ion?
A. 82
B.86
C.78

Explanation:

Lead (Pb) has 82 protons, or positively charged particles. If this was a neutral atom of lead, then there would also be 82 electrons, or negatively charge particles to balance each other out and create an overall charge of 0.

However, we are given an ion of lead (Pb⁴⁺) which means the electrons and protons are not equal.

This is a 4+ ion. Since it is more positive, there must be fewer electrons than protons. In this case, it is 4 fewer electrons.

There must be 78 electrons.

explanation:

metals have excess of electrons whereas non-metals have deficiency of electrons. thus, in order to gain stability metals easily donate their electrons to the non-metals.

for example, electronic configuration of sodium is and electronic configuration of phosphorous is .

when a phosphorous atom and sodium atom combine together then sodium will donate is extra one electron to the phosphorous atom. as a result there will be formation of ionic bond between sodium and phosphorous.

the reaction will be as follows.

there, are three sodium sodium atoms and each of them will donate its one extra electron to phosphorous atom. thus, the sub-shell of phosphorous gets completely filled.  

thus, we can conclude that electrons are transferred from atoms of sodium to atoms of phosphorous. this transfer makes the sodium atoms donate one electron and the phosphorous atoms to gain one electron. as a result, the sodium and phosphorus atoms strongly attract each other.