Question

How can you tell if an atom is neutral or not?

Answer 1

Hint: In the given question firstly we have to define the ions and what exactly are they. Now after that we can use this information to characterize the nature of the atoms and how that would be able to tell about the neutrality of the atoms.

Complete step by step answer:
The given question statement asks about the entire process through which we would be able to get the proper neutrality of an atom. So we have to explain what exactly are the ions and how are they different from atoms . Now by this we get the steps and use it to get the answer.
For the explanation of ions we get that an ion is a charged atom or molecule. It is so because the number of electrons do not equal the number of protons in the atom or molecule. Now we are well aware that an atom can acquire a positive charge or a negative charge which is depending on whether the number of electrons in an atom is greater or less then the number of protons in the atom.
Now to get whether the atom is neutral or not we just have to see the number of electrons that surround the nucleus will determine whether or not an atom is electrically charged or electrically neutral. The amount of charge on a single proton is equal to the amount of charge possessed by a single electron. A proton and an electron have an equal amount but an opposite type of charge.

Note: The word ion comes from the Greek word which represents "to go". This term was basicaly introduced by the prominent English physicist and chemist Michael Faraday in 1834 for the then-unknown species that goes from one electrode to the other through an aqueous medium.