What is Atomic Charge?
Atomic charge is the electrical charge of an atom, determined by the difference between the number of protons (positive charges) in the nucleus and the number of electrons (negative charges) surrounding the nucleus.
How to Calculate Atomic Charge
The atomic charge is calculated using this simple formula:
$$\text{Atomic Charge} = \text{Number of Protons} - \text{Number of Electrons}$$
Example Calculation
Let's calculate the atomic charge for an ion with:
- Number of Protons: 12
- Number of Electrons: 14
Solution:
$$\text{Atomic Charge} = 12 - 14 = -2$$
The atomic charge is -2 e (elementary charges). This represents an anion with two extra electrons.
Understanding the Results
- Positive charge (+): The atom has more protons than electrons (cation)
- Negative charge (-): The atom has more electrons than protons (anion)
- Zero charge (0): The atom has equal protons and electrons (neutral atom)
Common Applications
- Chemistry: Determining ionic charges in chemical compounds
- Electrochemistry: Understanding redox reactions
- Materials Science: Analyzing charged particles in materials
- Biochemistry: Studying charged amino acids and proteins
Key Concepts
Elementary Charge (e): The fundamental unit of electric charge, equal to approximately 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ Coulombs.
Ion Formation: Atoms gain or lose electrons to form ions with different charges, which affects their chemical properties and reactivity.