Which particle carries a positive charge and is found in the atomic nucleus?

Which particle carries a positive charge and is found in the atomic nucleus?

• A. Electron
• B. Positron
• C. Proton
• D. Neutron

Answer: (C)

Protons carry a positive charge and sit in the atomic nucleus. This positive charge is what gives the nucleus its overall charge, and the number of protons determines which element the atom is. Neutrons are also in the nucleus but have no electric charge, so they don’t contribute to the charge. Electrons are negatively charged and orbit outside the nucleus in electron shells. A positron has a positive charge too, but it is an antiparticle and is not a normal constituent of the atomic nucleus. So, the particle found in the nucleus that carries a positive charge is the proton.

Protons carry a positive charge and sit in the atomic nucleus. This positive charge is what gives the nucleus its overall charge, and the number of protons determines which element the atom is. Neutrons are also in the nucleus but have no electric charge, so they don’t contribute to the charge. Electrons are negatively charged and orbit outside the nucleus in electron shells. A positron has a positive charge too, but it is an antiparticle and is not a normal constituent of the atomic nucleus. So, the particle found in the nucleus that carries a positive charge is the proton.