Atoms that are not missing any electrons in their outer shell and are considered electrically neutral are called?

• A. Stable
• B. Reactive
• C. Ionized
• D. Excited

Answer: (A)

When the outer electron shell is complete, the atom reaches a stable arrangement where there’s no driving force to gain or lose electrons. This makes the atom electrically neutral and relatively unreactive, which is why “stable” is the best descriptor here.

Reactive would imply an incomplete or unstable outer shell that tends to form bonds. Ionized means the atom has a net charge from losing or gaining electrons, so it wouldn’t be neutral. Excited refers to electrons being in higher energy levels, not to the fullness of the outer shell or the neutral state.