Do atoms always have the same number of protons and electrons?

Atoms do not always contain the same number of electrons and protons, although this state is common. When an atom has an equal number of electrons and protons, it has an equal number of negative electric charges (the electrons) and positive electric charges (the protons).

Do atoms always have the same number of protons and neutrons?

Atoms always have an equal number of protons and electrons, and the number of protons and neutrons is usually the same as well. Adding a proton to an atom makes a new element, while adding a neutron makes an isotope, or heavier version, of that atom.

Is an atom neutral when the positive and negative charges balance?

Atoms are neutral if they have the same number of charged protons and electrons, balancing positive and negative charges. As long as the numbers of electron and protons are the same, the charges will balance.

When the proton number and electron number are unequal?

is an ion When the proton number and electron number are unequal, the atom or molecule has a net positive (cation) or negative charge (anion). 11 The number of electrons will equal the number of protons in an electrically neutral atom.

Do atoms always have the same number of protons?

All atoms of an element have the same number of protons, and every element has a different number of protons in its atoms. For example, all helium atoms have two protons, and no other elements have atoms with two protons.

What is an atom with the same number of protons and electrons called?

Key Points. Neutral atoms of each element contain an equal number of protons and electrons.

What are 2 atoms with the same number of protons and electrons but different number of neutrons called?

Two atoms with the same atomic number, but different mass numbers (same number of protons, different number of neutrons), are called isotopes, or isotopic nuclides. Having different numbers of neutrons changes the mass of these atoms, so isotopes have slight variations in their physical and chemical behavior.

Why do proton and electron have same charge?

Protons have a positive charge. Electrons have a negative charge. The charge on the proton and electron are exactly the same size but opposite. Since opposite charges attract, protons and electrons attract each other.

Why is an atom as a whole neutral?

Electrons have electric charge of -1 and the number of electrons in an atom is equal to the number of protons. Heavier atoms tend to have more neutrons than protons, but the number of electrons in an atom is always equal to the number of protons. So an atom as a whole is electrically neutral.

Why do atoms have equal numbers of protons and electrons?

Actually the proton and electron count of an atom are equal only when the atom is neutral in charge. The electrons are found in orbitals surrounding the nucleus. In order for the atom to remain electrically neutral the protons and electrons must balance each other.

What happens if you have the same amount of protons and electrons but not the same amount of neutrons?

The number of protons is always the same in atoms of the same element. The number of neutrons can be different, even in atoms of the same element. Atoms of the same element that contain the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons, are known as isotopes.

What is a neutral atom with the same number of protons?

A neutral atom has the same number of protons and electrons (charges cancel each other out). An ion has an unequal number of protons and electrons. If the charge is positive, there are more protons than electrons. If the charge is negative, electrons are in excess.

Do protons and electrons have the same electric charge?

•  Protons have positive electric charge and electrons have negative electric charge. •  The amount of positive charge on a proton equals the amount of negative charge on an electron. Positive and Negative Charge

What is an atom with a positive charge called?

An ion is an atom with a positive or negative charge because the atom either gained or lost an electron. Answer 7: The charge of an atom is the number of protons minus the number of electrons. Usually, these two numbers are equal, so the atom is neutral (charge of zero).

What is the net electric charge of an atom?

•  An atom contains equal numbers of protons and electrons, so the positive and negative charges cancel out and an atom has no net electric charge. •  Objects with no net charge are said to be electrically neutral. Positive and Negative Charge Section 1 Electric Charge