why does an atom have a neutral charge?
why does negative ion attacked to positive ion?
Thank you.
2006-10-19 13:12:19 · 4 answers · asked by Red Eye 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
an atom has a neutral charge because it has exactly the same number of positively charged protons as it has negatively charged electrons
each negative charge from an electron cancels out one positive charge from a proton
if the number of electrons equal the number of protons then all the charges cancel and you are left with a neutral (uncharged) atom
normal atoms all have the same number of protons and electrons and so are neutral
the second question is much harder to answer because it really is a WHY question
the electro-magnetic forces are defined such that opposites attract
a negative ion has more electrons than protons and thus a negative charge
the positive ion has more protons than electrons and thus a positive charge
the oppositely charge ions attract until the total molecule is neutral
2006-10-19 13:25:28 · answer #1 · answered by enginerd 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An atom has a neutral charge only when the nucleus has as many protons as the number of electrons orbiting it.
And a negative ion attaches to a positive ion to try to obtain a neutral charge. Negatives are attracted to positives, and everything tries to reach equilibrium.
2006-10-19 13:28:40 · answer #2 · answered by rocklady 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atoms have a neutral charge because they have the same number of protons as electrons. Protons are positive and electrons are negative so they cancel each other out to make the atom neutral. Negative and Positive ions attach to each other becuase one has a negative ion has extra electons and a positive ion has less electrons then it has protons. They come together to make a neutral compound and to share or give electrons. Atoms want to be stable and neutral.
2006-10-19 14:08:43 · answer #3 · answered by hphgrwd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'll explain the questions like you wanted us to do...you did NOT want answers.
The first is asking why there is no positive nor negative charge in an atom. It wants to know why the charge is neutral.
The second wants to know why the positive and negative ions stick together.
understand the questions now?
2006-10-19 13:56:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋