Question

You do not need to know the number of neutrons in an atom to find its total charge. Explain why not. Which property of addition supports your answer?

Short answer

Neutrons do not impact the total charge of an atom because they bear no charge. This is in accordance with the Identity property of addition, which states that the sum of any number and zero gives the initial number itself.

Step-by-step solution

Understand atomic structure

An atom comprises three types of particles: protons, electrons, and neutrons. Protons carry a positive charge, electrons a negative one, while neutrons bear no charge.

Charge distribution in an atom

To calculate an atom's total charge, sum up the charges of all protons and electrons. Neutrons, lacking any charge, don't contribute to this determination.

Define the mathematical property

The Identity property of addition supports this rationale. According to it, adding zero (the neutron's charge) to any number (the sum of proton and electron charges) will not change the number's value.