The force of item 1 on item 2 is equal and opposite to the force of item 2 on item 1.
But you are only concerned with the forces on the electron (item 1) in this case. There is only one such force and it is NOT cancelled out.
How is it that an electron accelerates towards the protons (nucleus) in a hydrogen atom?
I had thought that the electric forces acting on each other is equal so they are in equilibrium.
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