1. What is Atomic Charge?

Atomic charge (AC) is the difference between the number of protons (P) and electrons (E) in an atom. It determines whether an atom is neutral, positively charged (cation), or negatively charged (anion).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the atomic charge equation:

Where:

• \( AC \) — Atomic charge (dimensionless)
• \( P \) — Number of protons (dimensionless)
• \( E \) — Number of electrons (dimensionless)

Explanation: The equation simply subtracts the number of electrons from the number of protons to determine the net charge of an atom.

3. Importance of Atomic Charge Calculation

Details: Atomic charge determines chemical reactivity, bonding behavior, and electrical properties of atoms and molecules.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of protons (must be positive) and electrons (must be zero or positive). The calculator will compute the atomic charge.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a positive atomic charge mean?
A: A positive charge indicates the atom has more protons than electrons (cation).

Q2: What does a negative atomic charge mean?
A: A negative charge indicates the atom has more electrons than protons (anion).

Q3: What does zero atomic charge mean?
A: A zero charge means the atom is neutral with equal numbers of protons and electrons.

Q4: Can atomic charge be fractional?
A: In reality, no - charge is quantized. However, in some theoretical models, partial charges are used.

Q5: How does atomic charge relate to oxidation state?
A: While related, they're not identical. Oxidation state is a formal charge assignment, while atomic charge reflects actual electron distribution.