Question

An atom has a charge of +1 in its nucleus.

Which statement must be true in order for this atom to have no net charge?

Responses

There is one negatively charged electron outside the nucleus.

There is one negatively charged electron outside the nucleus.

There is one negatively charged electron in the nucleus.

There is one negatively charged electron in the nucleus.

The one positive proton has no influence on the overall charge of the atom.

The one positive proton has no influence on the overall charge of the atom.

There is one neutral neutron in the nucleus as well.

Answer 1

There must be one negatively charged electron outside the nucleus.

Explanation: A +1 nuclear charge means one proton. An atom is neutral when it has equal positive and negative charges, so it needs one electron (−1) outside the nucleus to cancel the proton's +1 charge.