Question

An electrically neutral atom must have:

• A. Lesser electrons than protons.
• B. Same number of neutrons and electrons but different number of protons
• C. Same number of protons and electrons
• D. Same number of protons and neutrons but different number of electrons

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Same number of protons and electrons

Protons are positively charged, electrons are negatively charged and neutrons don't have any charge.

Since the magnitude of charge on an electron and a proton are equal but opposite in sign i.e. positive and negative.

So an atom is said to be electrically neutral when it has the same number of protons and electrons and the number of neutrons doesn't affect the charge of an atom.