if the number of protons changed, the atom would become a different element
#of electrons and # of protons is EQUAL in a neutral atom
The numbers of protons and of electrons in the atom must be the same.
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
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.
The number of electrons should equal the number of protons, otherwise you have an ion.
#of electrons and # of protons is EQUAL in a neutral atom
The numbers of protons and of electrons in the atom must be the same.
protons, because the protons are positive and the electrons are negative so to have a neutral atom the protons and electrons must be balanced
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.
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
An atom's atomic number gives its number of protons. Zirconium has an atomic number of 40. Therefore, it must have 40 protons.
The atom needs to have the same number of electrons as it has protons.
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.
The number of electrons should equal the number of protons, otherwise you have an ion.
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.
To have a neutral atom, the atom must have the same amount of protons, neutrons, and electrons inside of it.
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.