Question

Which atom would be neutral?

- an oxygen atom with 9 electrons, 8 protons, and 8 neutrons

- an oxygen atom with 4 electrons, 6 protons, and 4 neutrons

- an oxygen atom with 8 electrons, 8 protons, and 9 neutrons

- an oxygen atom with 16 electrons, 18 protons, and 16 neutrons

choose the correct answer

Answer 1

To determine which atom is neutral, we need to look for the atom where the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons.

- An oxygen atom typically has 8 protons, as it is the atomic number of oxygen.

Now let's analyze each option:

1. **An oxygen atom with 9 electrons, 8 protons, and 8 neutrons**
- Protons: 8
- Electrons: 9
- **Not neutral** (more electrons than protons)

2. **An oxygen atom with 4 electrons, 6 protons, and 4 neutrons**
- Protons: 6
- Electrons: 4
- **Not neutral** (fewer electrons than protons)

3. **An oxygen atom with 8 electrons, 8 protons, and 9 neutrons**
- Protons: 8
- Electrons: 8
- **Neutral** (electrons equal to protons)

4. **An oxygen atom with 16 electrons, 18 protons, and 16 neutrons**
- Protons: 18
- Electrons: 16
- **Not neutral** (fewer electrons than protons)

The correct answer is: **an oxygen atom with 8 electrons, 8 protons, and 9 neutrons**.