How many electrons are in a neutral atom?
Understand the Problem
The question asks about the number of electrons in a neutral atom. A neutral atom has no overall electrical charge, meaning the number of positively charged particles (protons) must equal the number of negatively charged particles (electrons). Thus, the number of electrons in a neutral atom is equal to the number of protons.
Answer
The number of electrons in a neutral atom equals the number of protons.
In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons in the nucleus. This number is also known as the atomic number (Z).
Answer for screen readers
In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons in the nucleus. This number is also known as the atomic number (Z).
More Information
The balance between protons and electrons is what gives a neutral atom its overall zero charge. If electrons are added or removed, the atom becomes an ion, carrying a net negative or positive charge, respectively.
Tips
A common mistake is to assume the number of electrons always matches the atomic number, without considering the charge of the atom. Remember to check if the atom is neutral before equating electrons to protons. Ions will have a different number of electrons than their atomic number.
Sources
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