Assertion: Electrons in the atom are held due to coulomb forces.
Reason: The atom is stable only because the centripetal force due to Coulomb's law is balanced by the centrifugal force.

Options

A. if both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
B. if both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
C. if assertion is true but reason is false.
D. if both assertion and reason are false.

Explanation

To solve the given question, we will analyze both the assertion and the reason provided.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Assertion**:
- The assertion states that "Electrons in the atom are held due to Coulomb forces."
- This is true because electrons are negatively charged particles, and they are attracted to the positively charged nucleus due to the electrostatic force described by Coulomb's law.

2. **Understanding the Reason**:
- The reason states that "The atom is stable only because the centripetal force due to Coulomb's law is balanced by the centrifugal force."
- This statement is misleading. While it is true that the electron moves in a circular path around the nucleus, the centripetal force required for this circular motion is provided by the Coulombic attraction between the electron and the nucleus.

3. **Centripetal Force and Centrifugal Force**:
- In a circular motion, the centripetal force is the net force acting towards the center of the circle, which in this case is the Coulomb force.
- The centrifugal force is a fictitious force that appears when analyzing motion in a rotating (non-inertial) frame of reference. It does not actually balance the centripetal force; rather, it is an apparent force felt by the electron in its circular motion.

4. **Conclusion**:
- The assertion is true: Electrons are indeed held in the atom by Coulomb forces.
- The reason is false: The stability of the atom is not due to a balance between centripetal and centrifugal forces, but rather the Coulomb force acting as the centripetal force.

### Final Answer:
- The assertion is true, but the reason is false. Therefore, the correct option is **C**.