How is the charge determined from the number of protons and electrons?

How is the charge determined from the number of protons and electrons?

The number of protons and electrons in an atom or molecule determines its charge and whether it is a neutral species or an ion. The proton number is the atomic number of the element, while the electron number is the atomic number minus the charge. A negatively-charged ion or anion has more electrons than protons.

What determines the charge of an ion?

An ion is a charged atom or molecule. It is charged because the number of electrons do not equal the number of protons in the atom or molecule. An atom can acquire a positive charge or a negative charge depending on whether the number of electrons in an atom is greater or less then the number of protons in the atom.

What is the relationship between the number of protons and electrons and the charge of an atom?

Electrons contribute greatly to the atom’s charge, as each electron has a negative charge equal to the positive charge of a proton. Scientists define these charges as “+1” and “−1.” In an uncharged, neutral atom, the number of electrons orbiting the nucleus is equal to the number of protons inside the nucleus.

How do electrons determine charge?

Unlike protons, electrons can move from atom to atom. If an atom has an equal number of protons and electrons, its net charge is 0. If it gains an extra electron, it becomes negatively charged and is known as an anion. If it loses an electron, it becomes positively charged and is known as a cation.

How is number of protons determined?

The number of protons is determined by the atomic number which can be found on the periodic table. The electrons are always the same as the protons in a neutral atom.

What is the relationship between ion charge and electrons?

The positive electric charge of a proton is equal in magnitude to the negative charge of an electron; therefore, the net electric charge of an ion is equal to its number of protons minus its number of electrons.

Why is it important that the electrons and protons are attracted to each other in an atom?

Since opposite charges attract each other, the negatively charged electrons are attracted to the positively charged protons. Tell students that this attraction is what holds the atom together. This attraction is what holds the atom together.

Why the number of protons and number of electrons are equal?

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.

How can you determine the number of electrons in an ion?

You can determine the number of electrons in an ion if you know its charge. A cation carries a positive charge and has more protons than electrons. An anion carries a negative charge and has more electrons than protons. Neutrons do not have a net electric charge, so the number of neutrons does not matter in the calculation.

How is the charge of an atom determined?

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). Answer 8: An atom is defined as having the same number of electrons (negative charge), protons (positive charge) and neutrons (no charge).

What happens to an atom when there are equal number of electrons and protons?

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). The total electric charge of the atom is therefore zero and the atom is said to be neutral.

Why does an ion have a positive or negative charge?

An ion is a charged atom or molecule. It is charged because the number of electrons do not equal the number of protons in the atom or molecule. An atom can acquire a positive charge or a negative charge depending on whether the number of electrons in an atom is greater or less then the number of protons in the atom.