Which feature defines a neutral atom?(1 point) Responses 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 a low level of reactivity a low level of reactivity a full outer electron shell
The correct answer is: a full outer electron shell. A neutral atom is an atom that has the same number of electrons as protons, resulting in a balanced charge and no overall charge. The electrons in a neutral atom typically fill the outermost electron shell, resulting in stability.
The feature that defines a neutral atom is: the number of electrons equal to the number of protons.
The feature that defines a neutral atom is having the number of electrons equal to the number of protons. To understand why this is the case, let's go over some basic concepts.
Atoms consist of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons have a positive charge, neutrons have no charge, and electrons have a negative charge. The number of protons determines the atomic number of an element and defines its identity. The electrons orbit the nucleus of an atom in energy levels or shells.
In a neutral atom, the positive charge of the protons is balanced by the negative charge of the electrons. This means that the number of positively charged protons is equal to the number of negatively charged electrons, resulting in a net charge of zero. This allows the atom to be stable since the positive and negative charges cancel each other out.
Therefore, a neutral atom is one in which the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. This condition ensures that the atom has no overall charge and is electrically neutral.