Question

Question 110 (i)

Science Application An atom consists of charged particles called electrons and protons. Each proton has a charge of +1 and each electron has a charge -1. Remember the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons, while answering this question :
What is the charge on an atom?

Answer 1

Let "a" be the number of electrons in an atom.
Number of protons in the atom, will also be equal to "a". Since, an atom has equal number of protons and electrons.
$\therefore$ Charge on one electron = (-1)
$\therefore$ Total charge in a electrons = a $\times$ (-1) = - a
$\therefore$ Charge on one proton = (+1)
$\therefore$ Total charge in a protons = a $\times$ (+1) = + a
Hence, total charge on the atom = Charge of electrons + Charge of protons = - a + a = 0