The model below shows a carbide ion. 8 light grey and 6 dark grey balls sit at the center with 2 concentric black rings around them. The inner ring has 2 medium grey balls on it, and the outer ring has 8 medium grey balls on it. At bottom, a dark grey ball = +1, a light grey ball = 0, a medium grey ball = negative 1.

Explanation:

The question wants us to determine what could be done to change the carbide ion to a neutral carbon atom.

From the given information:

The dark grey ball has a +1 charge, which implies that the positive charge is the proton. Also, the light grey ball is denoted by 0 charge, which signifies that it is a neutron because a neutron usually has no charge, and its mass is equal to the mass of the proton.

Consequently, the -1 charge on the medium grey ball signifies that it is an electron.

In a neutral atom, the number of protons usually equal to the electron number. However, in as much as no overall charge is present from the model of the atom given. We can say that the atom is neutral.

Let also recall that the atomic number is the number of available protons present in the element's atomic nucleus.

Thus, in the given atom.

The total number of proton = 8

The total number of neutron = 9

The total number of electron = 8

Since atomic number relates to the number of protons, the atomic number is also = 8

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