Question

Number of protons and electrons are same in an atom. Then why is it wrong to say that atomic number of an atom is equal to its number of electrons

Answer 1

Answer:

explanation given.

Explanation:

An atom in its neutral, stable and natural state has an equal number of protons and electrons. But when an atom does undergo chemical reactions the number of electrons in it could change.

The protons are in the center of the atom, in the nucleus. They are along with neutrons and do not jump off the atom. But the electrons are in various circular or spherical orbits called shells. They are light, revolving at very high speeds and are quite attracted easily by neighboring atoms with affinity towards electrons.

Thus some electrons when they gain energy through heat or light or when they are placed close to other charged atoms , they jump off the atom into a neighboring atom of the same kind or other kind.

Then chemical reactions take place.

So the number of protons remains the same, but the number of electrons changes. But the properties of the atom and its fundamental identity remains the same.

Same way an atom can gain electrons and become surplus compared to its neutral state by getting electrons from neighboring atoms.

So that is why atomic number of an atom is equal to the number of protons and not the number of electrons.

Examples:  Na, Br,  Ca,  Ca++,  Na+, Br-, Cl-

Answer 2

Answer:

This is because of chemical change the number of protons may change so it is not equal to electrons