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Multiple Choice
How many electrons does a neutral potassium atom have?
A
18
B
21
C
20
D
19
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the atomic number of potassium. The atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, and for a neutral atom, it is also equal to the number of electrons.
Look up the atomic number of potassium on the periodic table. Potassium is represented by the symbol 'K'.
The atomic number of potassium is 19, which means a neutral potassium atom has 19 protons.
Since the atom is neutral, the number of electrons must equal the number of protons to balance the positive and negative charges.
Therefore, a neutral potassium atom has 19 electrons.