What charge is an atom?

[idNut]

Kind of confused but isn't it neutral? How does it maintain its charge also? I totally forget this stuff. Could someone help me out?

 

[Oscar1613]

atom is neutral, an ion is charged. it remains neutral by keeping the same number of electrons as protons.

 

[idNut]

Thank you

 

[Rakkis]

in adition:

a proton is defined as having a +1 charge
an electron, -1

 

[Fritzo]

I was a chemistry major for 2 years before I discovered I couldn't handle Calculus VI

Anyway, they're correct. an atom is the smallest "bit" of an element, and has a neutral charge. If it has a charge, it will see out particles to bond with to make itself neutral.