A complete atom is electrically neutral because
A)the number of protons equals the number of neutrons.
B)the number of electrons equals the number of neutrons.
C)the number of electrons equals the number of protons.
D)the number of electrons is greater than the number of protons.

Question

A complete atom is electrically neutral because
A)the number of protons equals the number of neutrons.
B)the number of electrons equals the number of neutrons.
C)the number of electrons equals the number of protons.
D)the number of electrons is greater than the number of protons.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An atom is made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons have a positive charge, neutrons have no charge, and electrons have a negative charge. In a neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons, which essentially cancel out each other's charges, resulting in a neutral overall charge for the atom. Therefore, choice C is the correct answer.

A Complete Atom Is Electrically Neutral Because