Atom A has 7 protons, 6 neutrons and 6 electrons; will it be attracted or repulsed by a negative charge? Atom B has 6 protons, 7 neutrons and 7 electrons; will it be attracted or repulsed by a negative charge?

Question

anonymous · Answer

A neutron has a charge of 0. A proton has a charge of +1. An electron has a charge of -1.  In order to find the total charge, multiply the number of each by their respective charges.  Opposite charges attract each other, while the same charges repulse each other.

Atom A = 7(+1) + 6(0) + 6(-1) = +1
Since it has a positive net charge, it will be attracted to a negative charge. 

Atom B = 6(+1) + 7(0) + 7(-1) = -1
Since it has a negative net charge, it will be repulsed by a negative charge.