How do you calculate the number of protons in a neutral atom?
1 Answer
Dec 30, 2016
The neutral atom will have the same number of protons as the number of electrons in the ground state.
Explanation:
To be “neutral” and atom must have the same number of protons as electrons. Usually it is the electrons that are shared, acquired or lost in chemical bonding.
The “ground state” of an atom will have a fixed number of electrons that define its chemical properties. The number of electrons can be determined from an atom’s position in the Periodic Table – or simply looked up in that table or other reference.
The neutral atom will have the same number of protons as the number of electrons in the ground state.
