In the atomic nucleus, what charges do protons and neutrons carry?

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Multiple Choice

In the atomic nucleus, what charges do protons and neutrons carry?

In the nucleus, protons carry a positive electric charge, while neutrons have no net charge (they are neutral). The positive charge of protons comes from their quark makeup, giving each proton a +1 charge; neutrons, made from a different combination of quarks, sum to zero charge overall. This distinction is what sets the atomic number and element identity, since the nucleus’s positive charge is balanced by an equal number of electrons outside the nucleus in a neutral atom. Neutrons contribute to mass and nuclear stability but do not add electrical charge. The idea that neutrons would carry a negative charge is not consistent with how atomic structure and charge balance work.

In the nucleus, protons carry a positive electric charge, while neutrons have no net charge (they are neutral). The positive charge of protons comes from their quark makeup, giving each proton a +1 charge; neutrons, made from a different combination of quarks, sum to zero charge overall. This distinction is what sets the atomic number and element identity, since the nucleus’s positive charge is balanced by an equal number of electrons outside the nucleus in a neutral atom. Neutrons contribute to mass and nuclear stability but do not add electrical charge. The idea that neutrons would carry a negative charge is not consistent with how atomic structure and charge balance work.

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