Question

An atom that has 7 protons in its nucleus and 5 electrons surrounding the nucleus has a net ________?

1) positive charge
2) negative charge
3) neutral charge
4) cannot be determined

Answer 1

An atom that has 7 protons in its nucleus and 5 electrons surrounding the nucleus has a net negative charge.

Step-by-step explanation:

An atom that has 7 protons in its nucleus and 5 electrons surrounding the nucleus has a net negative charge.

Negative charges of equal magnitude cancel out with positive charges in neutral atoms, resulting in an atom with no net charge. To be neutral, an atom must have the same number of electrons and protons. In this case, the atom has 7 protons and 5 electrons, so there are more protons than electrons, leading to a negative charge.