For an isolated atom, why do we expect the number of electrons present in the atom to be the same as the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom?

Question

Chemistry

Vincent Alvarado

18 December, 23:10

For an isolated atom, why do we expect the number of electrons present in the atom to be the same as the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom?

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Answers (1)

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Trevor Blanchard · Answer 1

The isolated atom has same number of protons and electrons.

Explanation:

As we know, that atom consist of three fundamental sub-particles proton, neutron and electron. Proton has positive charge and electron has negative charge while neutron has no charge. As an atom has a property of neutral, so in order to maintain neutrality, the number of proton (positive charges) and number of electron (negative charges) are always equal. As these charges are equal in magnitude and have opposite charges. so they cancelled the effect of each other and atom become neutral.

Example:

The sodium atom has 11 protons and 11 electron.