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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
What is the main idea of the passage?
How electrons move in atomsWhat a neutron is and its electric chargeWhy protons are heavier than neutronsWhat atoms are made ofWhat charge does a neutron have?
PositiveNegativeNeutral (no charge)It depends on the elementWhere are neutrons found in an atom?
In the electron cloudOrbiting the nucleusIn the nucleusOutside the atomWhat does the name “neutron” help us remember?
That it is tinyThat it is negativeThat it is neutralThat it moves fastWhat two particles are found in the nucleus?
Protons and electronsNeutrons and electronsProtons and neutronsElectrons onlyHow do neutrons help stabilize an atom?
They give the atom energyThey balance the positive charge of protonsThey attract electronsThey help atoms floatWhy don’t neutrons attract or repel other particles?
They are too smallThey are not found in atomsThey have no electric chargeThey are too fastWhat would happen without neutrons in the nucleus?
Atoms would be largerThe nucleus might fall apartElectrons would disappearProtons would stop moving
