Given below are two statements :
Statement I : Atoms are electrically neutral as they contain equal number of positive and negative charges.
Statement II : Atoms of each element are stable and emit their characteristic spectrum.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :
Answer: (A) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect.
Concept. Judge each statement against the structure of the atom and how spectra arise.
Step 1. Statement I. An atom has as many electrons as protons, so it is electrically neutral → correct.
Step 2. Statement II. Atoms emit their characteristic spectrum only when excited (by heating or an electric discharge) and falling back to lower levels, not on their own. Also, radioactive atoms are not stable → incorrect.
Answer. Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect (Option A).
Solution by Sreeraj P, M.Sc Physics