Final answer:
The false statement about a neutral atom is that the nucleus has a zero-charge, which is incorrect because the nucleus contains positively charged protons. The atom overall is neutral because it has an equal number of protons and electrons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The false statement about a neutral atom is, B. A neutral atom has a zero-charged nucleus. This is incorrect because the nucleus of an atom typically contains protons, with a positive charge, as well as neutrons, which have a neutral charge. The nucleus itself is not zero-charged; instead, the atom is neutral overall because it has an equal number of protons and electrons.
A neutral atom has the exact same number of protons and electrons, which results in the overall charge being zero. For example, a carbon-12 atom has 6 protons and 6 electrons; the positive charges from the protons balance out the negative charges from the electrons, leading to the atom having a neutral charge.
A neutral atom can indeed be an element or an isotope. For example, carbon-12 is a stable isotope of carbon and it is neutral because it has equal numbers of protons and electrons.