The relative electrical charges of the particles in atoms are:
| Name of particle | Relative charge |
|---|---|
| Proton | +1 |
| Neutron | 0 |
| Elecron | -1 |
In an atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons in the nucleus. Atoms have no overall electrical charge.
The number of protons in an atom of an element is its atomic number. All atoms of a particular element have the same number of protons. Atoms of different elements have different numbers of protons.
Students should be able to use the nuclear model to describe atoms.