What Charge Does a Neutron Have

Atoms are made up of three main particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. These tiny building blocks each have different properties, including mass and electric charge. You may already know that protons have a positive charge and electrons have a negative charge. But what about neutrons?

A neutron has no electric charge at all. It is neutral—that’s where its name comes from. The word “neutron” sounds like “neutral,” which means it is neither positive nor negative. It has a charge of 0.

Neutrons are found in the nucleus, or center, of an atom, along with protons. While protons and neutrons are similar in size and mass, their charges are very different. Protons attract electrons because they have opposite charges, but neutrons don’t attract or repel anything based on charge—they simply help stabilize the nucleus.

Neutrons play a big role in the mass and stability of atoms. Without them, the positive charges of protons would repel each other and the atom wouldn’t hold together. Neutrons help balance out the forces inside the nucleus.

So, what charge does a neutron have?

None. It is neutral, and that makes it an important part of the atom's inner structure.

Fun Fact: Neutrons are neutral—but outside the atom, they don’t last long! A free neutron decays in about 15 minutes