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Question

The atom is whole electrically neutral


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Solution

Understanding the concept:

  • An atom is a neutral substance made up of three subatomic particles electron, proton, and neutron.
  • Protons and electrons have equal and opposite charges. Neutron is electrically neutral in nature.
  • Thus atom is electrically neutral in nature.

Explanation atom is neutral:

  • The overall charge of an atom is zero, making it electrically neutral. An atom is made up of three subatomic particles: protons, electrons, and neutrons.
  • Protons are positively charged, electrons are negatively charged, and neutrons are neutral.
  • The overall charge of each atom is zero because it contains the very same number of electrons and protons.
  • Atoms with the same number of protons and electrons are electrically neutral because their charge strengths are equal.
  • An atom is no longer neutral if it has lost or gained electrons.
  • These atoms will be known as ions. Ions are charged either positively or negatively.
  • When an atom loses one electron an atom carries one positive charge.
  • As a result, cations are defined with positive net charge ions. If an atom gains electrons, the number of protons will be less than the number of electrons.
  • The atom carries an extra negative charge and is termed as anions or negative ions.
  • The atom's overall charge is zero if it neither gains nor loses electrons.

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