A neutral atom always contains
A)the same number of protons as it does neutrons.
B)the same number of electrons as it does neutrons.
C)the same number of protons as it does electrons.
D)twice as many protons as it does neutrons.
E)twice as many neutrons as it does protons.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A neutral atom has a net charge of zero, which means that the number of positively charged protons in the nucleus must be equal to the number of negatively charged electrons orbiting the nucleus. The number of neutrons in the nucleus can vary without changing the atom's identity, but it is not necessarily equal to the number of protons or electrons. Therefore, C - the same number of protons as it does electrons - is the correct option.

A Neutral Atom Always Contains