Question
A lithium atom has positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons. The sum of the charges represents the charge of the lithium atom. Find the charge of the atom.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
A lithium atom consists of 3 protons and 3 electrons.
- Each proton has a charge of +1 elementary charge (approximately \( +1.6 \times 10^{-19} \) coulombs).
- Each electron has a charge of -1 elementary charge (approximately \( -1.6 \times 10^{-19} \) coulombs).
To determine the overall charge of the lithium atom, we can calculate the total charge:
1. The total charge from the protons:
\[
\text{Charge from protons} = 3 \times (+1) = +3
\]
2. The total charge from the electrons:
\[
\text{Charge from electrons} = 3 \times (-1) = -3
\]
Now, summing these charges together gives:
\[
\text{Total charge} = +3 + (-3) = 0
\]
Therefore, the charge of a neutral lithium atom is **0**.
It is important to note that while the lithium atom has 3 protons and 3 electrons, it is typically chemically represented as a neutral atom in its ground state, meaning the charges balance out. If the lithium atom loses one electron (to become a lithium ion, \( \text{Li}^+ \)), it would then have a net positive charge of +1.
- Each proton has a charge of +1 elementary charge (approximately \( +1.6 \times 10^{-19} \) coulombs).
- Each electron has a charge of -1 elementary charge (approximately \( -1.6 \times 10^{-19} \) coulombs).
To determine the overall charge of the lithium atom, we can calculate the total charge:
1. The total charge from the protons:
\[
\text{Charge from protons} = 3 \times (+1) = +3
\]
2. The total charge from the electrons:
\[
\text{Charge from electrons} = 3 \times (-1) = -3
\]
Now, summing these charges together gives:
\[
\text{Total charge} = +3 + (-3) = 0
\]
Therefore, the charge of a neutral lithium atom is **0**.
It is important to note that while the lithium atom has 3 protons and 3 electrons, it is typically chemically represented as a neutral atom in its ground state, meaning the charges balance out. If the lithium atom loses one electron (to become a lithium ion, \( \text{Li}^+ \)), it would then have a net positive charge of +1.