What is the relative charge of a neutron?

Study for the IGCSE Edexcel Chemistry Test. Access flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

What is the relative charge of a neutron?

Explanation:
The key idea is that neutrons have no net electric charge. In the nucleus, a neutron is electrically neutral, so its relative charge is zero. If you look at what it’s made of, a neutron consists of quarks with charges that cancel out (two down quarks and one up quark, giving +2/3 and -1/3 and -1/3, which sum to 0). That cancellation means the neutron does not contribute any overall charge to the atom, unlike a proton, which has a positive charge. So the relative charge of a neutron is zero.

The key idea is that neutrons have no net electric charge. In the nucleus, a neutron is electrically neutral, so its relative charge is zero. If you look at what it’s made of, a neutron consists of quarks with charges that cancel out (two down quarks and one up quark, giving +2/3 and -1/3 and -1/3, which sum to 0). That cancellation means the neutron does not contribute any overall charge to the atom, unlike a proton, which has a positive charge. So the relative charge of a neutron is zero.

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