Question

If the atomic number is the number of protons and you subtract the atomic number by the mass number to find the number of neutrons, how would i find the number of electrons? Is it the same as the neutrons?

Answer 1

for a neutral atom,

number of electrons = number of protons = atomic number

Answer 2

are all atoms neutral?

Answer 3

when we generally speak of an atom, we assume it is neutral. but you can knock off electrons from an atom by heating it.

an atom with less/extra electrons is not neutral; it is called an ion.

Answer 4

thanks!