2007-10-23 11:32:11 · 5 answers · asked by tae tae 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
they contain an equal number of protons and neutrons allowing them to be balanced, or as it is better called, neutral.
2007-10-23 13:34:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
an atom implies it is neutral. The positive and negative cancel each other out. Otherwise it is an anion (a negatively charged "atom") or a cation ( a positively charged "atom). In any case, an atom carrying a charge is no longer an atom but an ion.
2007-10-23 18:48:26 · answer #2 · answered by casebri2000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its neutral when the # of protons = # of electrons. For example, 5 protons and 5 electrons can be thought of as 5 + (-5) = 0. 0 is neutral therefor the atom is neutral.
2007-10-23 18:46:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neutral just means that there is no net or "over-all" charge. An atom contains an equal number of protons (pos.) and electrons (neg.)
2007-10-23 18:42:54 · answer #4 · answered by ecolink 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both cancel out each other if they are atoms... If the positive and negatives particles don't get cancelled out ...then they have charge of the majority particle and then they are called positive ions or negative ions but are no more called atoms.
2007-10-23 18:36:13 · answer #5 · answered by That's me ... 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋