A change in the number of ___ will change the mass of a given atom.
a)proton
b)neutron
c)electron
I would say either a or b. I think I would go with b but yet could be a
The correct answer is (c) electron. A change in the number of electrons will change the mass of a given atom.
To understand why this is the case, we need to understand the structure of an atom. An atom consists of a positively charged nucleus at the center, which contains protons and neutrons. Surrounding the nucleus are negatively charged electrons, which orbit the nucleus in energy levels or shells.
While protons and neutrons contribute to the mass of an atom, the mass of an electron is comparatively much smaller and is usually considered negligible. Therefore, changes in the number of protons or neutrons will affect the atomic mass, but changes in the number of electrons will not significantly impact the overall mass of the atom.
To get this answer, one can recall basic knowledge of atomic structure or refer to a science textbook or reliable online sources that provide information about the structure and properties of atoms.