Are the number of protons greater than the number of electrons in an atom?

Are the number of protons greater than the number of electrons in an atom?

Number of protons always equal number of electron, but that’s the case with a neutral atom. A neutral atom is an atom of any element that has no electric charge over it. This implies that it has same number of protons and electrons in it.

What happens if the number of protons is greater than the number of electrons?

The matter is positively charged if it contains more protons than electrons, and it is negatively charged if it contains more electrons than protons. In both instances, charged particles will experience a force when in the presence of other charged matter.

Are protons greater than electrons?

Protons and neutrons are heavier than electrons and reside in the nucleus at the center of the atom. However, one proton is about 1,835 times more massive than an electron. Atoms always have an equal number of protons and electrons, and the number of protons and neutrons is usually the same as well.

Can number of protons be more than neutrons?

According to Wikipedia: Other than protium (ordinary hydrogen), helium-3 is the only stable isotope of any element with more protons than neutrons.

How many times bigger is a proton than an electron?

A proton is about 1835 times more massive than an electron. If you are asking about their physical dimensions – no one knows. Scientists currently do not know how small electrons are.

What is an atom with more protons than neutrons?

Atoms with differing number of protons and neutrons are called isotopes. When an atom has more protons than neutrons, they are very unstable and do not stay that way for long except for protium and helium-3.

When are there more electrons than protons in an atom?

An ion has an unequal number of protons and electrons. If the charge is positive, there are more protons than electrons. If the charge is negative, electrons are in excess. You can find the number of neutrons if you know the isotope of the atom.

Which is greater number of neutrons or number of electrons?

Number of neutrons can be equal to or greater than the number of protons because mass number is equal to double the atomic number or greater than double the atomic number. Of course, number of neutrons can be greater than the number of electrons because number of electrons = number of protons in the neutral atom.

How is an element defined by its number of protons?

Each element is defined by the number of protons found in each of its atoms. No matter how many electrons or neutrons an atom has, the element is defined by its number of protons. In fact, it’s actually possible to have an atom consisting of only a proton (ionized hydrogen).

How is the number of electrons in an atom determined?

For a neutral atom, the number of electrons is the same as the number of protons. Often, the number of protons and electrons is not the same, so the atom carries a net positive or negative charge. You can determine the number of electrons in an ion if you know its charge. A cation carries a positive charge and has more protons than electrons.