Huge Misconception: Protons, Electrons, Atoms, and Ions

Here's one of the most common misconceptions in Chemistry. Many people think that it an atom or group of atoms, the number of protons and the number of electrons always has to be the same. This isn't true! There are many cases where the number of protons and electrons are different. This is what causes electrical charge, and it creates ions, like anions and cations. Where does this misconception come from? It may come from the fact that in electrically neutral atoms, the number of protons and neutrons has to be the same. And often, we assume that atoms are neutral, even when they're not.

[naveedahsan]

and that’s how the BEST teacher roasts

[leonan]

Hello Tyler, at 1:15, you said "two extra protons..." it would have been better if you said "two less electrons", as ionization adds or removes electrons and saying extra proton sounds like there's change in the number of protons.
Cheers!

[derpydragoness]

i strongly recommend watching these videos to help students who dont understand teacher institutions like me

[akshatsharma]

I found a true chemistry teacher today :)

[frroossst]

i saw this and boasted in my science class and everyone was shocked

[AmandaRodriguez]

Tyler, thanks so much for these videos. It's amazing that I've taken and passed multiple chemistry classes a couple of times, but only now with you breaking down concepts, am I truly understanding what i'm doing and what teachers just don't teach. I don't want to learn from my book. I want to learn from my teacher! Wish you could teach all of my classes:/

[thomasvarghese]

Tyler is an excellent teacher, who can stretch out his imagination to explain abstract scientific concepts in a very simple manner. Thank you Tyler ; you are an asset to students who are learning from YouTube.

[joohyunbae]

I came here after I got my scores for my chem exam today. I want to thank you for you videos that enlightened me in chemistry. I always got low scores and I thought I can't do chemistry appropriate huhu. But after watching your videos last night, I got passing scores for my exam today. I am truly grateful to you professor tyler. Looking forward for the next videos and I hope I learn more about chemistry. THANK YOU SO MUCH 🥰

[nataliereed]

Tyler! You are helping me SO much with my Chemistry class!!!! Thank you for all of these videos. Life saver.

[TheScoutsHonor]

Here is a big misconception my students have
They see a reaction like: Li + MgCl2 --> 2 LiCl + Mg and when asked to figure out what is being oxidized or reduced, they immediately think Li is +1 because it's in group 1 and ignore the fact that it's an element.

[kp]

Pleaseee keep making videos!! We need you!!!

[ElizabethGarcia-fyej]

you're awesome, I love how you explain things!

[mewsicman]

1:39 how did it become 50? I'm confused

[dgtsoaznpride]

Tyler helped me pass my chemistry class three years ago. I had to come back and thank this guy for being a great a great teacher.

[DawitAdhanom-cu]

tyler that helps me so much even the balancing equation so keep it up and is electron and proton equal

[jabulilendlovu]

Tyler i wish u did physics too because u make chemistry so easy..

[hippiechickGD]

Thanks for this video. I'm just a little confused on how would you know the charge on atoms for writing polyatomic ions? Do I really have to memorize each one? :(

[ZhaodiWang]

I love you Tyler you so good explaining visually, verbally and vibrantly!!!!

[juewanmurray]

Thank you so much for that clarity!!! I appreciate you.

[KarenQuiltsFun]

Your tutorials are excellent ! You make physics and chemistry basics easy to understand, even to kids who have a fear of science (and maybe even radiology residents)---I'll be passing out a link to you isotope session to middle and high school kids at career day tomorrow
Thanks--Karen Nuclear Medicine MD