Question

A lithium atom has three protons, three neutrons, and three electrons. What is the overall charge on this atom?

Answer 1

The charge has got to do with the electrons and protons.

3 electrons and 3 protons.

charge = -3 + 3 = 0

Overall charge is zero. It is neutral. The electrons and protons are equal.

Answer 2

In adding up charges, you can ignore the neutrons ... they have no charge
either way. They're NEUTRal, which is why they're called NEUTRons.

That leaves us with 3 positive protons and 3 negative electrons.

+3 -3 = 0 .

The atom as a whole is neutral ... its net charge is zero.