Final answer:
An atom with 9 protons would have 9 electrons according to Rutherford's nuclear model of the atom, ensuring that the atom is electrically neutral.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on Rutherford's model of the atom, an atom with 9 protons would also have 9 electrons. Rutherford's model, known as the nuclear model, consists of a very small, positively charged nucleus that includes protons and, after its discovery, neutrons. The electrons are distributed around this nucleus. The atom maintains electrical neutrality by having an equal number of negatively charged electrons to balance the positive charge of the protons in the nucleus. For an atom with 9 protons, there would be 9 electrons to balance the electrical charges, making the atom electrically neutral. This is because atoms strive to maintain a balance of charges.
In this model, the number of protons determines the atomic number of an element, which also represents the number of electrons in a neutral atom. Therefore, if an atom has 9 protons, it will also have 9 electrons to maintain electrical neutrality.