Which feature defines a neutral atom?(1 point)
Responses
a full outer electron shell
a full outer electron shell
a low level of reactivity
a low level of reactivity
the ability to change to another substance during a chemical reaction
the ability to change to another substance during a chemical reaction
the number of electrons equal to the number of protons
the number of electrons equal to the number of protons
The feature that defines a neutral atom is the number of electrons equal to the number of protons.
The correct answer is: the number of electrons equal to the number of protons.
To determine which feature defines a neutral atom, we first need to understand what a neutral atom is. A neutral atom has no overall charge, which means it has an equal number of electrons and protons. Electrons are negatively charged particles found in the electron shells surrounding the nucleus of an atom, while protons are positively charged particles located in the nucleus.
To find the number of electrons in an atom, you can refer to the atomic number of the element. The atomic number represents the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, and since a neutral atom has no overall charge, it also represents the number of electrons. For example, if an atom has an atomic number of 8, it means it has 8 protons and 8 electrons. This balance of positive and negative charges results in the atom being neutral.
Therefore, the feature that defines a neutral atom is having the number of electrons equal to the number of protons.