Do the atoms in H₂ have an electric charge? Why or why not?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking whether individual hydrogen atoms (H₂) possess an electric charge and why or why not. To answer this, we need to consider the composition of an atom and its typical charge state.
Answer
No, atoms in H₂ are neutral with balanced positive and negative charges.
In H₂ the atoms themselves are neutral (no electric charge) because they contain an equal number of protons and electrons, thus balancing the positive and negative charges.
Answer for screen readers
In H₂ the atoms themselves are neutral (no electric charge) because they contain an equal number of protons and electrons, thus balancing the positive and negative charges.
More Information
A hydrogen atom consists of one proton and one electron. Since these charges are balanced, individual atoms of hydrogen will have a neutral charge.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing the slight polarity of a bond (as in polar covalent bonds) with the overall charge of an atom. While individual bonds can have slight positive or negative poles, in a molecule like H₂, the equal sharing of electrons between the two atoms results in no net charge on either atom.
Sources
- What is the electrical charge of a hydrogen atom? - Quora - quora.com
- Atoms, Elements, and Isotopes - Solar System Exploration - NASA - solarsystem.nasa.gov
- Atoms, Molecules, and Compounds - University of Hawaii at Manoa - manoa.hawaii.edu
AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify critical information
