A "neutral atom" has a <u>neutral charge</u>. This means that <em>its charge is equal to </em><em>zero. </em>In order for the charges to cancel out each other, the atom's <em>positive charge should be equal to the negative charge. </em>These being said, the number of electrons<em> (negatively-charged)</em> is then equal to the number of protons <em>(positively-charged). </em>Those atoms which are not neutral are called <em>"ions."</em> This means that they either have more or less electrons than the protons.
