Which subatomic particle carries a negative electric charge?

Which subatomic particle carries a negative electric charge?

• A. Protons
• B. Neutrons
• C. Quarks
• D. Electrons

Answer: (D)

The thing being tested is which particle carries a negative electric charge. The negatively charged particle is the electron. In atoms, electrons are the lightweight, negatively charged members that orbit the nucleus, while protons carry a positive charge and neutrons have no charge. Quarks are the smaller pieces inside protons and neutrons and can have fractional charges, but they don’t exist as freely charged particles in everyday matter—the negative charge we associate with atoms comes from electrons. The electron’s charge is defined as negative, with the same magnitude as the proton’s positive charge, allowing atoms to be electrically neutral when the numbers balance.

The thing being tested is which particle carries a negative electric charge. The negatively charged particle is the electron. In atoms, electrons are the lightweight, negatively charged members that orbit the nucleus, while protons carry a positive charge and neutrons have no charge. Quarks are the smaller pieces inside protons and neutrons and can have fractional charges, but they don’t exist as freely charged particles in everyday matter—the negative charge we associate with atoms comes from electrons. The electron’s charge is defined as negative, with the same magnitude as the proton’s positive charge, allowing atoms to be electrically neutral when the numbers balance.