There are 8 electrons in the atomic orbit of an element. Find the number of protons in its nucleus

Options

A. 8
B. 10
C. 5
D. Cannot determine

Answer

To find the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom when given the number of electrons, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Atomic Structure**:
- An atom consists of a nucleus that contains protons and neutrons, and electrons that revolve around the nucleus in orbits.

2. **Relationship Between Electrons and Protons**:
- In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. This is because the positive charge of protons balances the negative charge of electrons.

3. **Given Information**:
- The problem states that there are 8 electrons in the atomic orbit of the element.

4. **Applying the Relationship**:
- Since the number of electrons equals the number of protons, we can conclude that if there are 8 electrons, there must also be 8 protons in the nucleus.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the number of protons in the nucleus of the element is 8.

### Final Answer:
The number of protons in the nucleus is **8**.

---