For an uncharged atom, the following relationship is true:
The number of protons is equal to the number of electrons.
An uncharged atom has an equal number of protons (which are positively charged) and electrons (which are negatively charged), resulting in a net charge of zero.
The other statements are not generally true for uncharged atoms:
- The atomic mass is not equal to the atomic number; the atomic mass is roughly the sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus, while the atomic number is just the number of protons.
- The number of electrons is not necessarily equal to the number of neutrons; this can vary depending on the isotope of the element.
- The atomic mass does not equal the number of electrons; the atomic mass takes into account protons and neutrons.
- The number of neutrons is equal to the number of protons only in specific isotopes (like the most common isotope of hydrogen), but in general, the number of neutrons can vary.
Thus, the only statement that is always true for uncharged atoms is the second one mentioned.
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