Question

What does a neutral atom always contain?

Answer 1

Hint: An atom with its complete electronic configuration and with neutral charge is known as a neutral atom. The neutral atom does not have any ionic form. It is not formed by the loss of electrons as a cation, or by the gain of electrons as an anion. Any atom in its ground state without losing or gaining electrons is neutral.

Complete answer:
An atom is said to be neutral when it does not contain any type of charge. When an atom contains a charge, then it is called an ion. So, the atom in its original state, that is without losing or gaining an electron is said to be a neutral atom.
A neutral atom contains the sub – atomic species as any other atom may contain. The sub – atomic species are, electrons, protons and neutrons. The difference is that a neutral atom contains the same number of positive species as that of the negative species, which neutralizes all the charges. This means that a neutral atom consists of the same number of protons and the same number of electrons.
For example, sodium, with atomic number 11, in its neutral state contains 11 electrons and 11 protons that cancel out the charges and the net charge becomes neutral.
Hence, a neutral atom always contains the same number of protons and electrons.

Note:
The number of protons is equal to the number of protons that are equal to the atomic number of an atom. An atom loses its neutrality by losing or gaining electrons, and thus becoming ions. For example, sodium loses 1 electron to become cation, $N{a}^{+}$, and chlorine takes 1 electron to become anion, $C{l}^{-}$.