Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

General Test

Chapter

General Knowledge

Topic

Chemistry

Question:

What is the charge of neutron? 

Options:

Positive charge 

Negative charge 

No charge 

None of these. 

Correct Answer:

No charge 

Explanation:

The correct answer is option 3. No charge.

Neutrons are subatomic particles found within the nucleus of atoms alongside protons. Unlike protons, which have a positive electrical charge of \(+1\), neutrons are electrically neutral, meaning they have no net charge.

The neutrality of neutrons arises from their composition. Neutrons are made up of three quarks: two down quarks and one up quark. The down quarks have a charge of \(-\frac{1}{3}\) each, while the up quark has a charge of \(+\frac{2}{3}\). When combined, the charges of these quarks cancel each other out, resulting in a total charge of zero for the neutron.

Because neutrons have no charge, they are not affected by electric fields. This property distinguishes them from protons and electrons, which are positively and negatively charged, respectively, and are influenced by electric fields.

Neutrons play a crucial role in stabilizing atomic nuclei by balancing the repulsive forces between positively charged protons. They contribute to the strong nuclear force that binds protons and neutrons together within the nucleus, helping to maintain the overall stability of the atom.