Question

If an atom has 17 protons, 15 neutrons, and 21 electrons, what is the atom's electrical charge?

Answers:
-2
-4
+6
+4​

Answer 1

Answer: -4

Explanation: Neutrons do not matter in this problem as they have a charge of 0, or no charge. The total charge of all 17 protons will be +17 (since each proton has a charge of +1). The total charge of all 21 electrons will be -21 (since each electron has a charge of -1). Finding the difference of the charges, (+17-21) it will result in -4. This means that the atom will have an overall charge of -4.