An atom has atomic number 6 and has eight electrons. (a) Which element is this? (b) Is this a neutral atom, a cation, or an anion? If it is an ion, what is its charge? (c) Draw a Bohr diagram for this atom in its ground state.

An atom's atomic number represents the number of protons in its nucleus. In this case, the atomic number is 6. To identify this element, we can compare the atomic number to the periodic table. The element with the atomic number 6 is carbon (C).

A neutral atom has an equal number of protons and electrons. In this case, we have 6 protons and 8 electrons. Since the number of electrons is more than the number of protons, it's not a neutral atom. A cation is an atom that has lost one or more electrons, resulting in a positive charge. An anion is an atom that has gained one or more electrons, resulting in a negative charge. As our atom has gained two electrons (as it has 8 electrons instead of the 6 it would have as a neutral atom), it is an anion.

The charge of an ion is given by the difference between the number of protons and electrons. In this case, we have 6 protons and 8 electrons, so the charge of the ion is (\(6 - 8 = -2\)). This anion has a charge of -2.

A Bohr diagram represents an atom with concentric circles representing electron shells and electrons placed on these shells according to their energy levels. In its ground state, electrons fill the lowest energy levels first. 1. Draw a circle in the center for the nucleus, and inside the nucleus, write the element symbol "C" and its charge "-2." 2. Draw the first energy level as a circle around the nucleus. This shell can hold up to 2 electrons. Place 2 electrons (represented as small dots or x's) on this shell. 3. Draw the second energy level as another circle around the first. This shell can hold up to 8 electrons. However, in this case, we only have 6 remaining electrons. Place these 6 electrons on this shell. The resulting Bohr diagram will show the carbon anion with its -2 charge in the nucleus and two filled electron shells, with 2 electrons on the first shell and 6 electrons on the second shell.