What is Neutral Atom?
The number of protons in an atom’s nucleus distinguishes it from other atoms of the same element. A hydrogen atom is an atom with one proto. A carbon atom is an atom with six protons. And an oxygen atom is one with eight protons.
The number of electrons surrounding the nucleus determines whether an atom is electrically charged or neutral. The amount of charge on a single proton is the same as the amount of charge on an electron. A proton and an electron have the same amount of charge but opposite types of charge. Thus, an atom is said to be electrically neutral if it has an equal number of protons and electrons.
Table of Contents
- What is an atom?
- Zero Charge on the Neutral Atom
- Neutral Atom vs Charged Atom
- Examples of Neutral Atom
- Frequently Asked Questions- FAQs
What is an atom?
Atoms are described as “the fundamental building blocks of matter.”
It is the smallest constituent unit of matter that possesses chemical element properties. Atoms do not exist in isolation; instead, they combine to form ions and molecules, which then combine in large numbers to form the matter we see, feel, and touch.
Zero Charge on the Neutral Atom
Since each electron has a negative charge equal to the positive charge of a proton, electrons contribute significantly to the atom’s charge. The number of electrons orbiting the nucleus in an uncharged, neutral atom is equal to the number of protons inside the nucleus. The positive and negative charges cancel each other out in these atoms, resulting in an atom with no net charge.
| Protons, Neutrons and Electrons | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Charge | Mass (amu) | Location | |
| Proton | +1 | 1 | nucleus |
| Neutron | 0 | 1 | nucleus |
| Electron | -1 | 0 | orbitals |
Neutral Atom vs Charged Atom
Neutral atoms have a charge balance, which means that they have an equal number of protons and electrons. By removing one or more electrons, neutral atoms can be converted into positively charged ions.
- Charged atoms are known as ions. They have an unequal number of protons and electrons. Charge imbalance exists in charged atoms, with either more negative electrons than positive protons or conversely.
- Atoms with more electrons than protons are negatively charged and are known as anions.
- Atoms with lesser electrons than protons are positively charged and are known as cations.
Read more: Ion
Size of Neutral Atom vs Ions
Anions are larger than neutral atoms because adding electrons increases the number of electron-electron repulsion interactions. Cations are smaller than neutral atoms because the valence electrons, which are the furthest away from the nucleus, are lost. Taking more electrons away from the cation reduces the radius of the ion even further.
Role of Neutrons in Neutral Atom
Neutrons are electrically neutral. Their presence (or absence) has no direct impact on whether an object is charged or uncharged. Their only function in the atom is to keep the nucleus stable.
Examples of Neutral Atom
When an atom has an equal number of electrons and protons, it has an equal number of negative (the electrons) and positive electric charges (the protons). As a result, the atom’s total electric charge is zero, and it is said to be neutral. Therefore, all the elements in the periodic table are neutral atoms.
| Examples of Neutral Atom- 118 Elements of the Periodic Table | ||
|---|---|---|
| Element 1: H-Hydrogen | Element 40 : Zr-Zirconium | Element 79 : Au-Gold |
Frequently Asked Questions on Neutral Atom
Why is an atom said to be neutral?
An atom is said to be neutral because it has an equal number of electrons and protons in it.
How do you know if an atom is neutral?
When an atom contains an equal number of electrons and protons, then the atom will be neutral. If the number of electrons becomes more or less than neutrons then the atom acquires charge and becomes an ion.
Do neutrons have any role in the neutral atom?
No, neutrons only provide stability to the nucleus and have no role in making an atom neutral or charged.
Which element is responsible for an atom not being neutral?
The number of electrons present in an atom decides whether the atom will be charged or neutral.
- When the number of electrons is more than protons, then the atom will acquire a negative charge and will be called anions.
- When the number of electrons is lesser than protons, the atom will acquire a positive charge and will be called cations.
What happens if an atom isn’t neutral?
If an atom is not neutral, it will form an ion. The number of protons and electrons in this case is not equal.
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