Consider a neutral atom with 30 protons and 34 neutrons. What is the atoms number of electrons?

1 Answer
Jul 9, 2016

All you needed to know was that:

  • The atom is neutral.
  • The atom has #\mathbf(30)# protons.

Neutrality implies that all charges cancel.

Protons are positively charged, and electrons are negatively charged.

Therefore, a neutral atom has the same number of protons as electrons, no matter the number of neutrons.

You have two charges, and two types of particles. If #1 + (-1) = 0#, #30 + ?? = 0?# At this point, you should be able to infer what the answer is. ;)