If an element has 6 protons 7 neutrons and 6 electrons what is the charge of the element
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The element with 6 protons, 7 neutrons, and 6 electrons has a neutral charge — its overall charge is 0.
Explanation
To determine the charge of an element or atom, we focus on the balance between protons and electrons because protons are positively charged (+1) and electrons are negatively charged (−1). Neutrons, on the other hand, carry no charge, so they do not directly affect the atom’s charge.
In this case, the atom has:
- 6 protons (+6 total positive charge)
- 6 electrons (−6 total negative charge)
- 7 neutrons (0 charge)
When we add up the charges:
- Total charge = (+6) + (−6) = 0
Since the number of protons equals the number of electrons, their charges cancel each other out, resulting in a neutral atom.
This atom is carbon, specifically the isotope carbon-13 (¹³C). The number of protons (6) defines the element as carbon. The isotope is identified by the mass number, which is the sum of protons and neutrons:
- Mass number = 6 (protons) + 7 (neutrons) = 13
Carbon has several isotopes, the most common being carbon-12 (6 protons, 6 neutrons) and carbon-13. Isotopes differ in the number of neutrons but do not change the chemical properties significantly.
If the number of electrons had been different from the number of protons, the atom would be an ion. For example:
- More electrons than protons → negative ion (anion)
- Fewer electrons than protons → positive ion (cation)
However, in this case, the equal number of protons and electrons confirms that it is a neutral atom, not an ion.
Conclusion:
The element with 6 protons, 7 neutrons, and 6 electrons has no net charge. It is a neutral carbon-13 atom, and its overall charge is 0.
