Atoms are electrically neutral because they contain equal numbers of protons and electrons. Protons are positively charged particles found in the nucleus of the atom, while electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit around the nucleus.
In a neutral atom, the total positive charge from the protons is balanced by the total negative charge from the electrons. For example, an atom with 6 protons (like carbon) will have 6 electrons; the positive charge of the protons (+6) and the negative charge of the electrons (−6) combine to yield a net charge of zero.
If the number of protons and electrons is not equal, the atom becomes an ion: if it has more protons than electrons, it is positively charged (cation), while if it has more electrons than protons, it is negatively charged (anion). However, in their natural state, most atoms are neutral because this balance is the most stable configuration.
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