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For the atom not to be an ion how should the number of electrons change?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
In order for an atom to be an ion, it must have a charge. Atoms are naturally neutral, however, and have a charge of 0 because they have the same number of protons and electrons.
In order for an atom to become an ion, it must lose or gain electrons. An atom WILL NOT become an ion if it loses or gains protons, though, because if the number of protons changes, its atomic number changes, and it becomes a different element. For example, if an atom loses one electron, it is now more positive, and its charge becomes +1.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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When the number of protons and electrons are the same the atom is neutral?
Yes. When an atom has the same number of protons and electrons, it is neutral. The number of protons in an atom can never change without the element changing as well (and that is nuclear chemistry). The number of electrons can change, and when an atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes an ion. But an atom is always neutral due to the fact that the number of protons in an atom is equivalent to the number of electrons in that atom.
How many electrons versus protons in an atom?
The number of electrons should = the number of protons.
What is known about the number of protons vs the number of electrons?
a neutral atom will have equal amounts of protons and electrons. This number can change as the atom is oxidized or reduced in chemical reactions
What happens if the elements have different protons and electrons?
A neutral atom of a chemical element has a constant number of protons and electrons; loss or gain of electrons transform this atom in an ion.After the change of the number of protons the identity of the atom is lost.
What are electrons and how do you find how many electrons are in an atom?
Electrons are subatomic particles that orbit around the nucleus of an atom. They carry a negative charge and are responsible for chemical reactions and the formation of chemical bonds. The number of electrons in an atom can be determined by its atomic number, which represents 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.
When the number of protons and electrons are the same the atom is neutral?
Yes. When an atom has the same number of protons and electrons, it is neutral. The number of protons in an atom can never change without the element changing as well (and that is nuclear chemistry). The number of electrons can change, and when an atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes an ion. But an atom is always neutral due to the fact that the number of protons in an atom is equivalent to the number of electrons in that atom.
In a neutral atom the number of electrons equals the number of what?
The number of electrons should equal the number of protons, otherwise you have an ion.
How many electrons versus protons in an atom?
The number of electrons should = the number of protons.
What is known about the number of protons vs the number of electrons?
a neutral atom will have equal amounts of protons and electrons. This number can change as the atom is oxidized or reduced in chemical reactions
Is it possible to reverse the amount of protons and electrons in an atom?
The number of protons can not be changed in an atom, while the number of electrons can be.
What subatomic particle gives you the atomic number?
Protons.The atomic number of an atom is the number of protons in the atom. The identity of an atom is based on its atomic number, so a change in the number of protons mean an atom has turned into a different element. However, an addition or subtraction of neutrons creates different isotopes of an element, and a change in the number of electrons creates an ion of the element.
What happens if the elements have different protons and electrons?
A neutral atom of a chemical element has a constant number of protons and electrons; loss or gain of electrons transform this atom in an ion.After the change of the number of protons the identity of the atom is lost.
How many electrons do an atom with an atomic number of 3?
if it is a netrual atom it will have 3 but if it is charged it will change
Why atomic number is expressed by protons and not electrons?
electrons change the charge of an atom, not the element itself.
What are electrons and how do you find how many electrons are in an atom?
Electrons are subatomic particles that orbit around the nucleus of an atom. They carry a negative charge and are responsible for chemical reactions and the formation of chemical bonds. The number of electrons in an atom can be determined by its atomic number, which represents 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.
How will electron configuration of the atom change when the atom becomes an ion?
how will the electron configuration of the atom change when the atom becomes an iron
How can an atom be electrically neutral when its protons change?
Generally an atom contains similar number of electrons and protons. That is why an atom is neutral.
