Which statement correctly describes the charges of protons and electrons?

Which statement correctly describes the charges of protons and electrons?

• A. Protons - negative, electrons - negative
• B. Protons - negative, electrons - positive
• C. Protons and electrons are both positive
• D. Protons - positive, electrons - negative

Answer: (D)

Protons carry a positive electric charge and electrons carry a negative electric charge. This is the basic description that matches how atoms behave and how charges interact—opposite charges attract, like charges repel. The statement that protons are positive and electrons are negative is the correct one because it aligns with experimental evidence and atomic structure. The other descriptions assign the wrong signs to one or both particles, which would not explain the observed attraction between the nucleus and electrons or the known negative charge of the electron, or would imply both particles have the same positive charge.

Protons carry a positive electric charge and electrons carry a negative electric charge. This is the basic description that matches how atoms behave and how charges interact—opposite charges attract, like charges repel. The statement that protons are positive and electrons are negative is the correct one because it aligns with experimental evidence and atomic structure. The other descriptions assign the wrong signs to one or both particles, which would not explain the observed attraction between the nucleus and electrons or the known negative charge of the electron, or would imply both particles have the same positive charge.