How can I find net charge of an element?

Answer 1

Many atoms have the same number of protons and electrons (neutrons are irrelevant) and if there are more protons than electrons, the atom is positively charged. If there are more electrons than protons, the atom is negatively charged. These are called ions.

Answer 2

net means overall. As in force, net force, Fnet, so it might be the same for net charge.as in a neutral atom the net charge is 0(b'coz magnitude of charge of protons(+ve) and magnitude of electrons(-ve) is 0.)

Answer 3

Net charge on an atom is the difference between the number of an atom's valence electrons and its electrons in a particular configuration.

Example: Nitrite anion -O-N=O. The charge on the single bonded Oxygen: 6 valence electrons - 7 ( tree lone pairs=6 electrons + 1 electron from the single bond to Nitrogen) = -1. The charge on the Nitrogen: 5 valence electrons - 5 (2 electrons from the double bond + 1 electron from the single bond + 2 electrons from the lone pair) = 0. The charge on the double bonded Oxygen: 6 valence electrons - 6 (two lone pairs = 4 electrons + 2 electrons from the double bond) = 0. Hence the total charge on the molecule -1.

Answer 4

Charge distributions can be broken into two basic categories: Discrete and Continuous.

If you have a discrete charge distribution, then you know that are an integer number of charges in some arrangement. For instance, you might have 3 charges placed at the vertexes of an equilateral triangle. You can simply sum the charge of each of the three charges. If the charges have electric charge q1, q2, and q3, then qtotal = q1 + q2 + q3.

If you have a continuous charge distribution, then either clever symmetry or calculus is required to determine total charge. Three common charge distributions are:

1. Linear charge distribution. Consider a narrow rod of length L. The charge per unit length may be given, lambda. The total charge is then the length of the rod times lambda: L*lambda.
2. Surface charge distribution. Consider a surface with surface charge density sigma. If the total surface area which contains charge is S, then the total charge is S*sigma.
3. Volume charge distribution. Consider a volume with surface charge density rho. If the total volume which contains charge is V, then the total charge is V*rho.

If the problem is not stated in terms of a uniform charge distribution or it is not simply decomposed into the above three domains then integration is necessary. Depending on whether the problem is stated in terms of 1D, 2D or 3D, you will be calculating a path integral, surface integral, or volume integral. In general, alpha is some charge per unit (length, area, density), then the total charge is the (path, surface, or volume) integral of alpha integrated over the entire (path, surface, or volume) with respect to the (path, surface, or volume) element defined for preferred coordinate system. If alpha is uniform and independent of position then the problem simplifies considerably (finding the path length, surface area, or volume) and then multiplying it by alpha. However, if alpha is position dependent then you could find yourself with a nasty integral which may require numerical methods to solve.

Answer 5

An element, in its native state, will not have a net charge, i.e. it is zero. If the element is combined, you can find the oxidation number (or valence) however.

Answer 6

you can't find the charge of the atom

Answer 7

Add the number of protons and neutrons.