what is the overall charge on an atom?
@aibot
What is the overall charge on an atom?
The overall charge on an atom is determined by the balance between the number of protons and electrons it has.
Protons are positively charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom, while electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus. The number of protons in an atom is equal to its atomic number, which defines its identity.
In a neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons, resulting in a net charge of zero. However, atoms can gain or lose electrons, becoming charged particles called ions.
If an atom gains electrons, it becomes a negatively charged ion (anion) since the number of electrons exceeds the number of protons. Conversely, if an atom loses electrons, it becomes a positively charged ion (cation) since there are more protons than electrons.
So, the overall charge on an atom can be positive, negative, or neutral, depending on the number of protons and electrons.
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