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An atom is always neutrally charged, with equal numbers of protons and electrons. As soon as elements lose or gain electrons, they become ions.

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16y ago

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What determine the charge of an atom?

It depends on the number of electrons and protons the charge of an atom depends on the number of electrons and the number of protons


What part of the atom do you count to figure out the charge?

To determine the charge of an atom, you count the number of protons in the nucleus. This number represents the positive charge of the atom, as protons are positively charged particles.


EXPLAIN why it is not possible to determine the type of atom by knowing the charge of the atom?

Knowing the charge of an atom only provides information on the number of electrons it has gained or lost. Different types of atoms can have the same charge if they have gained or lost electrons in the same proportion. Therefore, the charge alone is not sufficient to determine the type of atom.


What subatomic particles determine the charge of an atom?

Protons (+1 charge) and electrons (-1 charge) are the subatomic particles that determine the charge of an atom. Protons carry a positive charge, while electrons carry a negative charge. The number of protons in an atom determines its overall positive charge, while the number of electrons determines its overall negative charge.


What orbits nucleus negative charge?

Electrons orbit the nucleus of an atom and carry a negative charge. The number and arrangement of electrons determine an atom's chemical properties.


How can one determine the effective nuclear charge (Z effective) of an atom?

To determine the effective nuclear charge (Z effective) of an atom, you can subtract the number of inner shell electrons from the atomic number of the element. This gives you the net positive charge experienced by the outermost electrons, which is the effective nuclear charge.


What is difference between formal charge and oxidation number?

Formal charge is a hypothetical charge assigned to an atom in a molecule based on assigning electrons in a specific way, while oxidation number is a real charge assigned to an atom in a molecule based on electronegativity and electron transfer. Formal charge helps determine the most stable Lewis structure, while oxidation number helps determine the actual charge on an atom in a compound.


Which particle determines the nuclear charge?

Protons determine the nuclear charge of an atom. Each proton carries a positive charge and is located in the nucleus of an atom. The number of protons in an atom determines its atomic number and therefore its nuclear charge.


How do electronegativity values determine the charge distribution in a polar in a polar covalent bond?

Electronegativity values indicate the tendency of an atom to attract electrons in a chemical bond. In a polar covalent bond, the atom with a higher electronegativity will attract the shared electrons more strongly, leading to an uneven distribution of charge. This results in a partial negative charge on the more electronegative atom and a partial positive charge on the less electronegative atom.


What number is used to determine how many electrons are in a neutral atom?

The number used to determine how many electrons are in a neutral atom is the atomic number, which is the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom. In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons, thus balancing out the positive charge of the protons with the negative charge of the electrons.


Which information will be most helpful in determining the charge of the atom's nucleus?

The number of protons in the nucleus will determine the charge of the atom. Protons carry a positive charge, while the overall charge of the nucleus is balanced by the negative charge of the electrons orbiting around it.


How do you determine if an atom is an ion?

An ion is formed when an atom gains or loses electrons, giving it a positive or negative charge. You can determine if an atom is an ion by looking at its number of electrons compared to its atomic number. If the number of electrons is not equal to the number of protons, the atom is an ion.