Question

Electrons and protons are particles in an atom with equal but opposite charges. Electrons have a negative charge and protons have a positive charge. What is the charge amount of an atom with 2 more electrons than protons?

Answer 1

`-3.2\cdot 10^(-19)C`

Explanation:

- Protons are positively charged particles contained in the nucleus of the atom. They have a charge of
`q_p=+1.6\cdot 10^(-19)C`

- Electrons are negatively charged particles orbiting around the nucleus of the atom. They have a charge of
`q_e = -1.6\cdot 10^(-19)C`

For a neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons, so the total charge of a neutral atom is:

`Q=Nq_p + Nq_e = N(q_p+q_e)=N(+1.6\cdot 10^(-19)-1.6\cdot 10^(-19))=0`

In this problem, we have an atom having an excess of 2 electrons, i.e. it has 2 more electrons than protons.

Therefore, the charge of this atom will be:

`Q=0+2q_e`

and substittuing, we find

`Q=2(-1.6\cdot 10^(-19))=-3.2\cdot 10^(-19)C`