If, number of electrons in an atom is 8 and the number of protons is also 8, then (i) what is the atomic number of the atom? and (ii) what is the charge on the atom?
Answer
Given: Number of electrons in an atom = Number of protons = 8
(i) Atomic Number
We know that,
Number of electrons in an atom = Number of protons = Atomic Number of the atom
Therefore, Atomic number = 8
(ii) Charge of atom
Charge of a proton = +1
Charge of 8 protons = 8 x (+1) = +8
Charge of an electron = -1
Charge of 8 electrons = 8 x (-1) = -8
Hence total charge on the atom = charge of 8 protons + charge of 8 electrons
= 8 + (-8)
= 0
Therefore, charge on the atom is 0.
