The statement that the positive charge of the nucleus and the negative charge of the electrons keep the electrons in orbit and keep the atom electrically neutral is:

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. Both

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that the electromagnetic attraction between opposite charges holds the atom together and determines its overall charge. The nucleus has a positive charge from protons, and electrons carry negative charge. The electrostatic attraction between these opposite charges pulls electrons toward the nucleus and binds them in a stable arrangement around it. When the numbers balance—same amount of positive charge from protons as negative charge from electrons—the overall charge is zero, so the atom is electrically neutral. While we often picture electrons orbiting like tiny planets, the more accurate view is that they occupy regions called orbitals around the nucleus due to this attraction. So the statement is true: the nucleus’s positive charge and the electrons’ negative charge bind the electrons and render the atom neutral.