38. Which element has 31 electrons in each neutral atom?
Answer: A
Gallium (Ga) has 31 electrons in each neutral atom.
Gallium is the element that contains 31 electrons in its neutral state, corresponding to its atomic number.
A) Gallium (Ga)
Gallium has an atomic number of 31, which means it possesses 31 protons and, in a neutral atom, 31 electrons. This directly answers the question regarding the element with 31 electrons.
B) Neon (Ne)
Neon has an atomic number of 10, indicating that it has 10 electrons in its neutral state. This does not meet the requirement of having 31 electrons.
C) Aluminum (Al)
Aluminum has an atomic number of 13, which means it has 13 electrons in its neutral atom. Therefore, it does not satisfy the condition of having 31 electrons.
D) Hydrogen (H)
Hydrogen has an atomic number of 1, meaning it has only 1 electron in its neutral state. This is far less than the 31 electrons stated in the question.
Conclusion
Gallium (Ga) is definitively the correct answer as it is the only element among the options provided that has 31 electrons in each neutral atom. The other options, Neon, Aluminum, and Hydrogen, contain significantly fewer electrons, thereby failing to meet the criteria established in the question.