Electrons are negatively charged and found outside of the nucleus.
Since protons and electrons are oppositely charged, if an atom has the same number of electrons (each with a -1 charge) as it has protons (with a +1 charge), then the atom is neutral (it has no charge).
If the numbers are different, then the atom will have a charge and is then called an ion. If there are more protons than electrons, the ion is positive. If there are more electrons than protons, then the ion is negative.
Electrons have have almost no mass compared to the mass of a proton or a neutron. That means that the mass of ion is essentially the same as the mass of the atom from which it is formed. That means that the mass of C-4 is the same as C and the same as C+4.
In other words, the mass of an electron compares to the mass of an atom like the mass of a feather compares to a tractor trailer on the highway. When a truck pulls into a weigh station, the driver does not worry about whether they truck is clean or whether there are too many bugs on the window, these extra “little” masses are too small (in comparison to the entire truck) to matter.
Since protons and electrons are oppositely charged, if an atom has the same number of electrons (each with a -1 charge) as it has protons (with a +1 charge), then the atom is neutral (it has no charge).
If the numbers are different, then the atom will have a charge and is then called an ion. If there are more protons than electrons, the ion is positive. If there are more electrons than protons, then the ion is negative.
Electrons have have almost no mass compared to the mass of a proton or a neutron. That means that the mass of ion is essentially the same as the mass of the atom from which it is formed. That means that the mass of C-4 is the same as C and the same as C+4.
In other words, the mass of an electron compares to the mass of an atom like the mass of a feather compares to a tractor trailer on the highway. When a truck pulls into a weigh station, the driver does not worry about whether they truck is clean or whether there are too many bugs on the window, these extra “little” masses are too small (in comparison to the entire truck) to matter.
How electrons arrange themselves around the nucleus is a subject all to itself. It involves knowing lots about atomic history, quantum theory and electron configuration.
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back to atomic structure
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back to atomic structure
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