Question

Which of the following statements explains why the atoms are all neutral in charge?

A) They have the same number of protons as the atoms of all other elements.
B) They have protons that are identical to the protons of all other elements.
C) They have the same size as the atoms of all other elements.
D) They have the same number of protons as electrons.

Answer 1

Atoms are neutral in charge because they have the same number of negative electrons as positive protons.

Step-by-step explanation:

Atoms are neutral in electrical charge because they have the same number of negative electrons as positive protons. Therefore, the atomic number of an atom also tells you how many electrons the atom has. This, in turn, determines many of the atom's chemical properties. For example, helium has Z = 2, which tells us that there are 2 protons in the nucleus and 2 electrons outside of the nucleus.