Why do the protons and electrons have to be equal in an atom?

Answer 1

Actually I don't understand what actually question is?

Atom has three fundamental parts: Electron, Proton, Neutron.

Each atom has equal number of these items. Electrons are negatively charged particles, and Protons are positively charged particles. Neutrons don't carry any charge. Neutrons & Protons sit in the nucleus (center) of an atom, whereas electrons revovle around the nucleus in the orbits. By nature atom has no net charge.

Answer 2

Protons have a positive charge and electrons have a negative charge. A 'neutral atom" means an atom has no overall net charge. A proton, while much larger, has the same charge as an electron, so there must be the same number of each to balance the total positive charge with the total negative charge.

It's a bit like walking, however many steps you take, if you take the same number backwards then you end up where you started. Think of protons like taking a step forwards and electrons like taking a step back. Three steps forward and two back means you end up travelling a 'net distance' of one step forwards, or you have a 'net charge' of +1. To get that charge to zero, you need equal numbers of protons and electrons.

Answer 3

In a neutral atom the positive charge of the protons is cancelled out by the negative charge of the electrons.

Answer 4

Because they have the same amount of charge, but of opposite sign. If it contained a different number of electrons and protons, it wouldn't be neutral.