Textbook Question
On a dry day, your hair flies apart when you brush it. How would you explain this?
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Ch.4 Atoms and Elements
Timberlake13th EditionChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134421353
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 Chemistry in Our Lives11
- Ch.2 Chemistry and Measurements80
- Ch.3 Matter and Energy54
- Ch.4 Atoms and Elements51
- Ch.5 Nuclear Chemistry42
- Ch.6 Ionic and Molecular Compounds57
- Ch.7 Chemical Quantities and Reactions41
- Ch.8 Gases29
- Ch.9 Solutions51
- Ch.10 Acids and Bases and Equilibrium65
- Ch.11 Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Hydrocarbons78
- Ch.12 Alcohols, Thiols, Ethers, Aldehydes, and Ketones83
- Ch.13 Carbohydrates54
- Ch.14 Carboxylic Acids, Esters, Amines, and Amides90
- Ch.15 Lipids61
- Ch.16 Amino Acids, Proteins, and Enzymes84
- Ch.17 Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis83
- Ch.18 Metabolic Pathways and ATP Production67
Timberlake13th EditionChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134421353Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 4, Problem 25d
Would you use the atomic number, mass number, or both to determine each of the following?
d. number of electrons in a neutral atom
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Understand the concept of a neutral atom: A neutral atom has no overall charge, meaning the number of protons (positively charged particles) is equal to the number of electrons (negatively charged particles).
Recall that the atomic number represents the number of protons in an atom. Since a neutral atom has an equal number of electrons and protons, the atomic number also indicates the number of electrons.
Note that the mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom. It does not provide information about the number of electrons.
Conclude that only the atomic number is needed to determine the number of electrons in a neutral atom, as it directly corresponds to the number of protons, which equals the number of electrons in this case.
Avoid using the mass number for this determination, as it does not relate to the electron count in a neutral atom.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Atomic Number
The atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which uniquely identifies an element. In a neutral atom, the atomic number also indicates the number of electrons, as the positive charge of protons is balanced by the negative charge of electrons. Therefore, the atomic number is essential for determining the number of electrons in a neutral atom.
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Mass Number
The mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus. While it provides information about the atom's isotopes and overall mass, it does not directly indicate the number of electrons. Thus, the mass number is not necessary for determining the number of electrons in a neutral atom.
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Neutral Atom
A neutral atom is one where the number of protons equals the number of electrons, resulting in no overall charge. This balance is crucial for understanding atomic structure and behavior in chemical reactions. When identifying the number of electrons in a neutral atom, the atomic number is the key factor, as it directly reflects the number of protons and, consequently, the number of electrons.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Sometimes clothes cling together when removed from a dryer. What kinds of charges are on the clothes?
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Textbook Question
Would you use the atomic number, mass number, or both to determine each of the following?
c. number of particles in the nucleus
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Textbook Question
How many protons and electrons are there in a neutral atom of each of the following elements?
a. argon
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Textbook Question
Write the atomic symbol for the isotope with each of the following characteristics:
c. 25 electrons and 28 neutrons
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Textbook Question
Argon has three naturally occurring isotopes, with mass numbers 36, 38, and 40.
a. Write the atomic symbol for each of these atoms.
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