my question is atoms contained charged particales called protons and electrons. each proton has a charge of +1,and each electron has a charge of -1. a sulfur ion hashas 16 protons and 18 electrons.. find the net charge? i am not sure how to do this. can someone please help me?

Question

my question is atoms contained charged particales  called protons and electrons. each proton has a charge  of +1,and each electron has a charge of -1. a sulfur ion hashas 16 protons and 18 electrons..   find the net charge?  i am not sure how to do this. can someone please help me?

anonymous · Answer

Well, first of all, find the charge of the protons. Each has charge +1, and there are 16, so the total is +16. Same for the electrons, -18. Then add them up, for  a net charge of -2.

anonymous · Answer

I am not sure what to do

anonymous · Answer

Well, thing of the atom as a bunch of +1's and -1's. So lets consider a simpler case for the sake of drawing quickly - a charged lithium atom, with 3 protons and 4 electrons. So here it is: |dw:1356750422879:dw| add up all the numbers, and you get -1. A faster way to do that is just to take the number of protons, and subtract the number of electrons.