A complete atom is electrically neutral because the number of

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An atom is composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons have a positive charge, electrons have a negative charge, and neutrons have no charge. The number of protons determines the atomic number of an element and also determines the number of electrons in a neutral atom. Since electrons have a negative charge and protons have a positive charge, if an atom has the same number of protons and electrons, the charges cancel out and the atom is electrically neutral. Therefore, the correct answer is C, which states that the number of electrons and protons are equal in a neutral atom.

A Complete Atom Is Electrically Neutral Because the Number of