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if the number of protons changed, the atom would become a different element

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Q: Why must the number of protons always stay the same in an atom?
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The number of electrons and protons in a neutral atoms must always what?

#of electrons and # of protons is EQUAL in a neutral atom


What must be true of the number of protons and the number of electrons in an atom if the atom has no charge?

The numbers of protons and of electrons in the atom must be the same.


In an atom the number of electrons must be the same as the number of?

protons, because the protons are positive and the electrons are negative so to have a neutral atom the protons and electrons must be balanced


Why is the atomic number equal to the number of protons?

In order to have a neutral atom, protons and electrons must cancel each other out. If you have more electrons, your atom becomes negatively charged and if you have more protons, the atom becomes positively charged. Hence, a neutral atom must have the same number of electrons and protons.


How many protons does the magnesium cation have?

The periodic table states that the atomic number of magnesium is 12. A magnesium atom would thus have 12 protons in its nucleus; any atom that has 12 protons must be a magnesium atom. Atomic number = number of protons


How many protons in an atom in zicronium?

An atom's atomic number gives its number of protons. Zirconium has an atomic number of 40. Therefore, it must have 40 protons.


What do you need to build a neutral atom?

The atom needs to have the same number of electrons as it has protons.


What particle in a nitrogen atom must remain the same in order for it to stay a nitrogen atom?

The atomic number for nitrogen is 7, meaning that it has 7 protons. In order for it to remain as nitrogen, the number of protons in it must always be 7. If, for example, the number of protons were to increase to 8, it would no longer be nitrogen; it would then be oxygen.


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.


What part of an atom must change for the atom to become a new element?

An atom must gain or lose protons from its nucleus to become an atom of another element. The number of protons, and to a much lesser extent the number of neutrons, will determine the chemical properties of an element.


What must always be the same in a neutral atom?

To have a neutral atom, the atom must have the same amount of protons, neutrons, and electrons inside of it.


What is the atomic number of the element has 17 electrons?

the number of protons and electrons are the same. on the Periodic Table of Elements you will see your element that you are looking for, then you will see there is a number under it. )ex. 9=flourine) that number is the number of protons. then, usually the number of protons, electrons, and neutrons are the same.