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Question
- why are atoms neutral despite having charged particles?
An atom consists of protons (positively charged), electrons (negatively charged), and neutrons (neutral). The number of protons in the nucleus is equal to the number of electrons surrounding the nucleus. The positive charge of protons and the negative charge of electrons are equal in magnitude and opposite in sign, so their charges cancel out, making the atom neutral overall.
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Atoms are neutral because the number of positively - charged protons in the nucleus is equal to the number of negatively - charged electrons outside the nucleus. The positive and negative charges cancel each other out, resulting in a net charge of zero for the atom.