Question

In response to a question, a student stated that in an atom, the number of protons is greater than the number of neutrons, which in turn is greater than the number of electrons. Do you agree with the statement? Justify your answer.

Answer 1

• We know that the number of protons will always be less than or equal to the number of neutrons.
• Hence, the given statement is wrong as the number of protons can never be greater than the number of neutrons.
• The total number of protons in the nucleus of an atom gives us the atomic number of that atom which is represented by the letter ‘Z’.
• The number of protons and neutrons combined gives us the mass number of an atom which is represented using the letter ‘A.’
• As both protons and neutrons are present in the nucleus of an atom, they are together called nucleons.
• The number of neutrons can be greater than the number of electrons because the number of electrons = the number of protons in the neutral atom.

Hence, the number of protons cannot be greater than the number of neutrons.