charges attract each other; similar electrical
charges repel each other. In each atom,
protons in the central nucleus attract a cloud
of electrons that orbit constantly at various
distances from the nucleus. Stable forms of
the elements are electrically neutral, which
means that their atoms contain equal numbers
of protons and electrons.
(If like charges repel each other and
opposite charges attract, then why is it that the
protons in the nucleus don’t push each other
away and the orbiting electrons fall straight
into the nucleus? It turns out that there are
forces besides electricity at work in the atom.
The protons and neutrons are bound together
by very strong nuclear forces, while it’s the
nature of electrons to be in continual motion.
So protons and electrons are always attracted
to each other and move in response to the
other’s presence, but they never consummate
their attraction.)
Electrical Imbalance, Reactions, and Oxidation