For an atom to be electrically neutral the number

An atom is electrically neutral because the number of negatively charged electrons outside the nucleus equals the number of positively charged protons inside the nucleus. An atom in which this electron-proton balance is not maintained has a net charge.

Answer: For an atom to be electrically neutral, the number of protons and electrons must be the same

Explanation: if the number of protons and electrons are the same, then the atom will be electrically neutral. For example if an atom have 5protons and 5electrons, then + 5 protons will cancel out - 5electrons making the net charge of the atom to be zero (neutral)