MCQ Detailed View

Subatomic particles are the building blocks of an atom. The three major subatomic particles are protons, neutrons, and electrons. Each has a different electric charge. Protons carry a positive charge (+1), electrons carry a negative charge (-1), and neutrons have no charge. Neutrons are electrically neutral.

Neutrons are located inside the nucleus along with protons. They have a mass almost equal to that of a proton. Their main function is to provide stability to the nucleus. Without neutrons, the positively charged protons would repel each other and make the nucleus unstable.

Alpha particles are made up of two protons and two neutrons. Since they contain protons, they have an overall positive charge. Therefore, alpha particles are not neutral.

Electrons are negatively charged and are found outside the nucleus in specific energy levels. They have very small mass compared to protons and neutrons and are responsible for chemical bonding and electricity.

Protons are positively charged and are also found in the nucleus. The number of protons in an atom is called the atomic number and determines the identity of the element.

Neutrons, being neutral, do not interact with electric or magnetic fields. This unique property allows them to be used in various nuclear processes such as fission and radioactive decay studies. Neutrons also play a key role in isotope formation.

Understanding the charges and roles of subatomic particles is important in physical chemistry, especially in topics related to atomic theory, nuclear chemistry, and bonding.