A typical, neutrally charged atom has
A) just as many electrons as protons.
B) no neutrons in the nucleus.
C) more protons than electrons.
D) as many electrons as protons and neutrons combined.
E) at least 1 neutron.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A typical, neutrally charged atom has an equal number of protons and electrons. This is because the protons, which are positively charged, and electrons, which are negatively charged, cancel each other out and create a neutral charge. Option B is incorrect because most atoms have neutrons in the nucleus, but the number can vary depending on the element. Option C is incorrect because if an atom had more protons than electrons, it would have a positive charge. Option D is incorrect because neutrons do not have a charge, so they do not contribute to the overall charge of an atom. Option E is incorrect because some atoms, such as hydrogen, do not have any neutrons.

A Typical, Neutrally Charged Atom Has