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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.
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When the number of protons and electrons are the same the atom is neutral?
Yes, that is correct. An atom is neutral when the number of protons in the nucleus (positive charge) is equal to the number of electrons orbiting around the nucleus (negative charge), balancing out the overall charge to zero.
How many electrons versus protons in an atom?
The number of electrons should = the number of protons.
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 is known about the number of protons vs the number of electrons?
The number of protons in an atom determines its atomic number and identifies the element. The number of electrons in an atom is usually the same as the number of protons, which keeps the atom electrically neutral. If an atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes an ion with a net positive or negative charge.
What are electrons and how do you find how many electrons are in an atom?
Electrons, protons and neutrons are the building blocks of atoms. Electrons have a negative electrical charge and can be thought of as small particles that orbit the nucleus, made of the neutrons and protons. In fact, the behavior of electrons is very complex but this simple model is effective. The number of protons in an atom is the atomic number of the atom and this defines what element the atom is. The atom normally has the same number of electrons as protons. Therefore, the atomic number of an element represents the number of electrons in the atom. Note that the number of electrons can be changed when the atom is part of a compound although the number protons does not change.
Will changing the number of electrons change the element?
Yes, changing the number of electrons will change the element. The number of electrons in an atom determines its chemical properties and behavior, so altering the number of electrons will result in the atom becoming a different element.
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 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
When the number of protons and electrons are the same the atom is neutral?
Yes, that is correct. An atom is neutral when the number of protons in the nucleus (positive charge) is equal to the number of electrons orbiting around the nucleus (negative charge), balancing out the overall charge to zero.
How many electrons versus protons in an atom?
The number of electrons should = the number of protons.
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.
Why atomic number is expressed by protons and not electrons?
electrons change the charge of an atom, not the element itself.
What is known about the number of protons vs the number of electrons?
The number of protons in an atom determines its atomic number and identifies the element. The number of electrons in an atom is usually the same as the number of protons, which keeps the atom electrically neutral. If an atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes an ion with a net positive or negative charge.
What are electrons and how do you find how many electrons are in an atom?
Electrons, protons and neutrons are the building blocks of atoms. Electrons have a negative electrical charge and can be thought of as small particles that orbit the nucleus, made of the neutrons and protons. In fact, the behavior of electrons is very complex but this simple model is effective. The number of protons in an atom is the atomic number of the atom and this defines what element the atom is. The atom normally has the same number of electrons as protons. Therefore, the atomic number of an element represents the number of electrons in the atom. Note that the number of electrons can be changed when the atom is part of a compound although the number protons does not change.
When the number of electrons changes the atom becomes what?
When the number of electrons changes, the atom becomes an ion. An atom becomes a positively charged ion (cation) when it loses electrons and a negatively charged ion (anion) when it gains electrons.
