Let's analyze the atom you are creating with the specified subatomic particles:
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Is the atom neutral?
- Yes, the atom is neutral. An atom is considered neutral when the number of protons (which are positively charged) is equal to the number of electrons (which are negatively charged). In this case, there are 8 protons and 8 electrons, so the atom is neutral.
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Is the atom stable?
- The stability of an atom can depend on multiple factors, including the ratio of neutrons to protons. Generally, an atom is considered stable if it has a balanced neutron to proton ratio. In this case, you have 8 protons and 7 neutrons, which gives a ratio of 7:8 (or 0.875). While some elements can be stable with such ratios (e.g., oxygen), the specific stability can also depend on other isotopic considerations. Hence, without specific isotopic data, we cannot definitively say that it is stable, but it is commonly stable for certain isotopes of oxygen.
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What is the atomic mass?
- The atomic mass can be roughly calculated by adding the number of protons and neutrons together. In this case: \[ 8 \text{ protons} + 7 \text{ neutrons} = 15 \text{ (atomic mass units)} \] Therefore, the atomic mass is approximately 15 amu.
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What is the atomic number?
- The atomic number is defined by the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom. Since there are 8 protons, the atomic number is 8.
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What is the atomic charge?
- The atomic charge can be calculated by subtracting the number of electrons from the number of protons. If there are 8 protons and 8 electrons: \[ 8 \text{ protons} - 8 \text{ electrons} = 0 \] Thus, the atomic charge is 0, confirming that the atom is neutral.
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What is the atomic symbol?
- The atomic symbol corresponds to the element with atomic number 8, which is oxygen. The chemical symbol for oxygen is O.
To summarize:
- Neutral: Yes
- Stable: Likely (but context-dependent)
- Atomic mass: 15 amu
- Atomic number: 8
- Atomic charge: 0
- Atomic symbol: O
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