The number of electrons in a neutral oxygen atom is equal to its number of protons.
Understanding Neutral Atoms
According to the provided reference, when dealing with a neutral element like oxygen as it is found on the periodic table, the number of protons equals the number of electrons. This is because a neutral atom has no overall electrical charge, meaning the positive charges of the protons are balanced by the negative charges of the electrons.
Oxygen's Atomic Number
Oxygen has an atomic number of 8. This means it has 8 protons in its nucleus.
Finding the Number of Electrons
Since a neutral oxygen atom has 8 protons, it must also have 8 electrons to balance the charge.
Summary Table
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 8 |
| Number of Protons | 8 |
| Number of Electrons (neutral) | 8 |
Therefore, a neutral oxygen atom contains 8 electrons.
