Question

An uncharged oxygen atom has eight protons and ____ electrons. [Hint: Protons are positively charged and electrons are negatively charged.]

zero
sixteen
one
eight

Answer 1

To make a neutral charge the protons and electrons need to cancel out therefore 8 electrons

Answer 2

Option 4 - Eight

Explanation:

Given : An uncharged oxygen atom has eight protons.

To find : The number of electrons?

Solution :

We know,

The number of protons and electrons in an atom are always equal.

Oxygen has atomic number eight.

We have given, An uncharged oxygen atom has eight protons.

To balance the atom we must have eight electrons as protons are positively charged and electrons are negatively charged.

Therefore, The number of electrons in oxygen is eight.

So, An uncharged oxygen atom has eight protons and eight electrons.

Hence, Option 4 is correct.