Why are atoms neutral despite having charged particles?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking why atoms, which contain charged particles (protons and electrons), are overall neutral. This relates to the balance between the positive charge of protons and the negative charge of electrons within an atom.
Answer
Atoms are neutral because they have equal numbers of protons and electrons.
The final answer is that atoms are neutral because they have equal numbers of positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons, which balance each other out.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is that atoms are neutral because they have equal numbers of positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons, which balance each other out.
More Information
Atoms are composed of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons, with electrons present in orbitals around the nucleus. The charges of protons and electrons are equal and opposite, thus when their numbers are the same, they cancel each other out, resulting in a neutral atom.
Sources
- Atomic Structure - chem.libretexts.org
- Why is an atom neutral inspite of the presence of charged particles - toppr.com
