Asked by Gabriel

Which statement best explains why the overall charge on an atom is zero?

The positive charge of the neutrons in the nucleus equals the negative charge in the electron cloud.
The positive charge of the protons in the nucleus equals the negative charge in the electron cloud.
The negative charge of the neutrons in the nucleus equals the positive charge in the electron cloud.
The negative charge of the protons in the nucleus equals the positive charge in the electron cloud.

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
"The positive charge of the protons in the nucleus equals the negative charge in the electron cloud."

Explanation: protons carry positive charge and electrons carry equal negative charge in a neutral atom; neutrons are electrically neutral.