7. An element's most stable ion forms an ionic compound with chlorine having the formula XCl2. If the ion of element X has a mass of 89 and 36 electrons, what is the identity of the element, and how many neutrons does it have

The element is strontium and the number of neutrons it have is 51.

Explanation:

Based on the given information, the ionic compound is,  

XCl₂ ⇔ X₂⁺ + 2Cl⁻

X2+ is the ion of the mentioned element

As mentioned in the given question, the number of electrons of the element X is 36 and as seen from the reaction the charge present on the ion is +2. Now the atomic number will be,  

No. of electrons = atomic number - charge

36 = atomic number - 2

Atomic number = 38

Based on the periodic table, the atomic number 38 is for strontium element, and the sign of strontium is Sr. Hence, the element X is Sr.  

Now based on the given information, the mass number of the element is 89. Now the no. of neutrons will be,  

No. of neutrons = mass number - atomic number

= 89 - 38

= 51 neutrons.  

since the atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus, as we move to the left on the periodic table, the electrostatic pull between the nucleus and the valence electron shell decreases. as we move down a group (vertical column), the valence shell energy level gets further and further from the nucleus.