Question

Atom is neutral with respect to the electrical charge.Explain it.

Answer 1

yes atom is neutral with respect to the electrical charge.

Answer 2

This depends on definition of what is atom. Strictly speaking, atom is a electrically neutral (i.e., zero charge) entity composed by one positively charged nucleus and one or more electrons. The number of electrons must be equal to the number of protons (atomic number) in the nucleus. Thus, by definition, atom must be always neutral.

An electrically charged atom or group of atoms is called ‘ion’. The excess of electrons respective to protons produces a negatively charged ion called ‘anion’ and the lack of electrons, a positive ion called ‘cation’.

Sometimes monoatomic ion is called ‘atom’, despite this is being incorrect. The same occurs with polyatomic ion that is mistakenly called ‘molecule’.