An atom is considered to be electrically

Options

A. positive
B. negative
C. neutral
D. positive or negative

Answer

To solve the question "An atom is considered to be electrically...", we need to analyze the components of an atom and their charges. Here’s a step-by-step solution:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Components of an Atom**:
An atom consists of three main subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons.

2. **Determine the Charges of Each Particle**:
- Protons have a **positive charge**.
- Electrons have a **negative charge**.
- Neutrons are **neutral** (they have no charge).

3. **Understand the Arrangement of Particles**:
Protons and neutrons are located in the nucleus of the atom, while electrons orbit around the nucleus in defined energy levels or shells.

4. **Analyze the Charge Balance**:
In a neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons. This means that the positive charges from protons balance out the negative charges from electrons.

5. **Conclude the Electrical Nature of the Atom**:
Since the positive and negative charges are equal, they cancel each other out. Therefore, an atom is considered to be **electrically neutral**.

6. **Select the Correct Answer**:
Based on the analysis, the answer to the question is that an atom is electrically neutral.

### Final Answer:
An atom is considered to be electrically **neutral**.

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