Answer to Question #62901 in General Chemistry for Arlette Sheefer

Question

How can atoms be electrically neutral when they contain charged particles?

Answer 1

Atom consist of three types of particles. There are proton (positive), electron (negative) and neutron particles. Atoms are neutral because the sum of the electrons is equal to the sum of the protons. The charge of an electron is equal but opposite to that of a proton. If you have the same number protons as electrons, they balance each other out.