Protons and electrons are equal in number in a neutral atom because the overall charge of an atom must balance to zero. Each proton carries a positive charge, while each electron carries an equal but opposite negative charge. Since atoms are electrically neutral, the positive charges from protons are offset by the negative charges from electrons, resulting in an equal number of both particles in a neutral atom. This balance is a fundamental principle of atomic structure.
We don't need to. The atomic number is based on the number of protons. Since all elements as they appear in the periodic table have the same number of protons and electrons, if we know one, we know the other.
Find the atomic number. That tells you the number of protons and electrons (in a neutral atom). Then find the atomic weight. The number of protons plus the number of neutrons will equal the atomic weight. So if you know the wt. just subtract the number of protons and you will have the number of neutrons.
It depends. From the given information about the number of protons, we can be sure that we are talking about potassium. The number of neutrons in this case won't matter. If the question emphasizes "atom" then we can be sure that the particle is neutral. Then we know that for the particle to be neutral, it has to have the same number of electrons as protons. However, potassium will not stay neutral for long if given a chance. It will lose an electron when bonding with others, to eventually have 18.
Neon (Ne) has at. wt. of 20.183 and at. no. of 10.We know that the number of Protons is equal to At. No. and the number of Electrons equals the number of Protons.The number of Neutrons is the (At. Wt.) - (At. No.)Thus, we know that Ne has 10 Protons, 10 Electrons and 10 Neutrons.
Add the number of protons plus the number of neutrons for an approximate answer. Compared to protons and neutrons, electrons have zero mass - it takes over 1800 electrons to equal the mass of a proton or neutron.
In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons of the nucleus.
No, the mass number of an element is the sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. To determine the number of electrons, you would need to know the atomic number of the element, which is equal to the number of protons. Electrons in a neutral atom equal the number of protons.
Yes, in a neutral atom the number of electrons and protons is equal, and it is the number of protons that determines what element the atom is. So, by looking at the number of electrons you can tell what element it is.
We don't need to. The atomic number is based on the number of protons. Since all elements as they appear in the periodic table have the same number of protons and electrons, if we know one, we know the other.
The number of protons in an atom is equal to the atomic number of the element, which can be found on the periodic table. Since atoms are electrically neutral, the number of electrons in a neutral atom is also equal to the number of protons.
Argon has 18 electrons because it possesses 18 protons in its nucleus, making it electrically neutral. The number of electrons in an atom is equal to the number of protons in the nucleus.
The number of electrons in a neutral atom is equal to the number of protons in the nucleus. This is because in a neutral atom, the positive charge from protons in the nucleus is balanced by the negative charge from electrons orbiting around the nucleus.
Find the atomic number. That tells you the number of protons and electrons (in a neutral atom). Then find the atomic weight. The number of protons plus the number of neutrons will equal the atomic weight. So if you know the wt. just subtract the number of protons and you will have the number of neutrons.
The number of protons in an atomic nucleus is the sole determinate as regards its elemental identity - its atomic number. The number of electrons will exactly match this number in the neutral atom. But electrons can be loaned or borrowed. What is known? The number of neutrons? With nothing more than is stated, what can be determined? Nothing of a certainty. If the number of neutrons is known, then we could divide the table of elements into two parts: the group of elements that it "could be" and the group that it "couldn't be" by using a table of nuclides as a reference. Other than that, there is little that can be discovered....
A neutral chlorine atom has 17 electrons. You can know this because chlorine's atomic number is 17, which is the number of protons in the nuclei of its atoms, and a neutral atom has equal numbers of electrons and protons.
Except for ions, the number of electrons in an atom are equal to the number of protons. The atomic number will tell you the number of protons, and consequently the number of electrons in an electrically neutral atom. In the case of an ion, adjust the number by the indicated charge; for example Na+1 will have 11 (the atomic number of Na) - 1 (since electrons have a negative charge, you subtract the charge) = 10 electrons.
The atomic number gives you the number of electrons and protons there are in an atom. ex: Carbon (C) has atomic number 6. So we know that it has 6 protons and 6 electrons