How many electrons does an atom contain?

Answer 1

You need to know the atomic number to know how many electrons an atom has. You can find it next to the element's symbol on the Periodic Table.

For example, lithium has an atomic number of 3. This tells us that a lithium atom has 3 protons. Now since atoms are neutral they must have the same number of protons and electrons, so lithium also has 3 electrons.

Atoms can lose or gain electrons to become charged species called ions, in which the number of electrons will not equal the number of protons; however, in a neutral atom:

atomic number = number of protons = number of electrons

Answer 2

A neutral atom contains exactly the same number of electrons as it has protons in its nucleus.

The number of protons in an atoms nucleus is that atoms atomic number and defines what element that atom belongs to in the periodic table of the elements.

Answer 3

Oxygen is the 8th element in the periodic table. This means that Oxygen has 8 protons and 8 electrons. In order to get the number of neutrons you take the atomic weight in this case 15.9999~16 and you subtract it by the number of protons (16-8).

Answer 4

the protons and electrons number is always same in any atom that's why you can say "An atom is electrically neutral"

Answer 5

It depends on the atom. Hydrogen can have 1 and Uranium can have 92

Answer 6

It depends on which element it is, and whether it is an ion. A periodic table should be useful in this case. See related link below.

Answer 7

It depends on its position in the periodic table

Answer 8

An atom contains the same number of electrons as it does protons, assuming it is electrically neutral. This number corresponds to the atomic number of the element as listed on the periodic table.