Question

If an atom has no electric charge, what can be said about the number of protons and electrons it contains?

Short answer

A neutral atom has an equal number of protons and electrons.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Electric Charge

An atom is composed of protons, which have a positive charge, and electrons, which have a negative charge. If an atom has no net electric charge, it means that the positive and negative charges must balance each other out.

Relationship of Protons to Electrons

For the charges to balance, the number of positively charged protons must equal the number of negatively charged electrons in the atom.

Conclusion for a Neutral Atom

Thus, in a neutral atom (one with no net electric charge), the number of protons must be equal to the number of electrons.

Key concepts

Protons

Protons are fundamental particles found in the nucleus of an atom. They carry a positive electric charge, which is typically represented as "+1". This charge is essential because it attracts the negatively charged electrons, holding them in orbit around the nucleus. Understanding protons is critical when studying atomic structure as they define the elemental identity.

• Protons are positively charged.
• They reside in the nucleus of an atom.
• The number of protons determines the element.

The atomic number of an element on the periodic table represents the number of protons in the nucleus of its atoms. As positively charged entities, protons play a crucial role in balancing electric charges within an atom.

Electrons

Electrons are the negatively charged particles that move around the nucleus in what can be visualized as clouds or shells. Each electron carries a charge of "-1", counterbalancing the positive charge of a proton. Electrons are vital in chemical reactions and are responsible for the formation of bonds between atoms.

• Electrons are negatively charged.
• They orbit the nucleus in electron shells.
• Electrons enable chemical bond formations.

The behavior and arrangement of electrons around the nucleus determine how an atom interacts with other atoms. This interaction is fundamental to the chemical properties and reactivity of the atom.

Electric Charge Balance

The principle of electric charge balance is crucial to understanding neutral atoms. In a neutral atom, the number of electrons must equal the number of protons. This equivalence ensures that the total positive charge from the protons cancels out the total negative charge from the electrons.

• A neutral atom has no overall charge.
• Number of protons equals number of electrons.
• Charge balance is necessary for stability.

When the charges are balanced, the atom has no net electric charge. This balance allows atoms to remain stable and form the building blocks of matter. Without balance, an atom becomes an ion, either positively charged (more protons than electrons) or negatively charged (more electrons than protons). Therefore, for an atom to be neutral, electric charge balance is fundamental.