Charges and Atomic Structure

Charges

  • Electron Cloud: Negatively charged region surrounding the nucleus of an atom.

  • Magnitude of an Electron's Charge (e):

    • e=1.60×10−19 Ce = 1.60 \times 10^{-19} \text{ C}

    • SI unit: Coulomb (C)

Types of Charge

  • Positive Charge:

    • Proton:

      • Mass = 1.673×10−27 kg1.673 \times 10^{-27} \text{ kg}

      • Attracts negative charges.

      • Repels positive charges.

  • No Charge (Neutral):

    • Neutron:

      • Mass = 1.675×10−27 kg1.675 \times 10^{-27} \text{ kg}

  • Negative Charge:

    • Electron:

      • Mass = 9.109×10−31 kg9.109 \times 10^{-31} \text{ kg}

      • Repels negative charges.

  • Nucleus: Positively charged due to the presence of protons.

Atomic Electrical Neutrality

  • The charges of the electron and proton are equal in magnitude.

  • Atoms are electrically neutral because their total charge adds up to zero (number of protons equals the number of electrons).