Which subatomic particle has a negative charge?

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

Answer: (B)

The negative charge belongs to the electron, a lightweight particle that orbits the nucleus. In atoms, protons carry positive charge and neutrons have no charge, so the nucleus (made of protons and neutrons) is overall positively charged. The electron’s negative charge balances that positive charge, giving many atoms a neutral overall charge. The electron and proton have the same magnitude of charge, but opposite signs. The nucleus isn’t a single charged particle itself; it’s a region containing the charged particles. So the particle with negative charge is the electron.