What is the overall charge on an atom? Explain why this is.

Answer 1

The overall charge on an atom is neutral, meaning it has an equal number of positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons.

Protons have a positive charge, while electrons have a negative charge. In an atom, the number of protons in the nucleus is balanced by the number of electrons in the electron cloud surrounding the nucleus. This balance of positive and negative charges results in the overall charge of the atom being neutral.

If an atom were to gain or lose electrons, it would become an ion with a positive or negative charge. However, in its natural state, an atom is electrically neutral.