Questions: Inside the Atom: Protons, Neutrons, and Electrons
3 questions to test your understanding
Score: 0 / 3
Question 1 Multiple Choice
Which subatomic particle is found in the nucleus and carries no electrical charge?
AProton
BElectron
CNeutron
DPhoton
Neutrons are located in the nucleus alongside protons. Unlike protons (positive charge) and electrons (negative charge), neutrons carry no electrical charge. Photons are particles of light, not parts of an atom.
Question 2 True / False
In a neutral atom, the number of protons equals the number of electrons.
TTrue
FFalse
Answer: True
Each proton carries a +1 charge and each electron carries a -1 charge. For the atom to have no overall charge (neutral), these must be equal in number. If the counts are unequal, the particle is called an ion, not a neutral atom.
Question 3 Short Answer
Where is almost all of the mass of an atom concentrated?
Think about your answer, then reveal below.
Model answer: In the nucleus, which contains the protons and neutrons.
Protons and neutrons are each about 1,836 times more massive than an electron. Because both protons and neutrons are packed into the tiny nucleus, that is where essentially all of the atom's mass is found, even though the nucleus is only a tiny fraction of the atom's total volume.