Question

in an atom what is the number of protons equal to?
the number of electrons
the number for molecules
the number of neutrons
the number of nuclei

Answer 1

In a neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons. This is because protons carry a positive charge and electrons carry a negative charge, and in a neutral atom, these charges balance each other out.

To clarify the other options you mentioned:

- The number of protons is **not equal** to the number of molecules. Molecules can contain multiple atoms of different elements.
- The number of protons is **not equal** to the number of neutrons, as the number of neutrons can vary in different isotopes of the same element.
- The number of protons is **not equal** to the number of nuclei. An atom has one nucleus, but there can be multiple atoms within a sample or a molecule.

So, the correct answer is that in a neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons.