What are the charges of an electron, a proton, and a neutron?

The electron is an elementary particle found in the atoms of all elements. It bears a negative charge, which has a specific magnitude of approximately \( -1.602 \times 10^{-19} \) coulombs. This charge is considered as one of the fundamental constants of physics and is used as a standard unit of elementary charge. Despite its incredibly small size, the electron has a pivotal role in chemical reactions, and its interaction with other particles, such as protons, is essential for the formation of atoms.

Understanding the electron charge is vital because it influences electrical and magnetic fields and allows for the flow of electricity when electrons move through a conductor. In fact, everyday phenomena like lightning or the operation of electronic devices hinge on the movement of electrons and their associated charge. To visualize how significant this charge is, the overwhelming majority of the volume of an atom consists of the space where the electrons move, shaping the chemical properties of the atom through their arrangement and interactions.

Protons, in contrast to electrons, carry a positive charge equal in magnitude but opposite in sign, which is also approximately \( +1.602 \times 10^{-19} \) coulombs. Protons reside in the nucleus of an atom, wherein they contribute significantly to the atom's overall mass. Unlike electrons, which can be exchanged or shared between atoms leading to chemical bonds, protons are generally stable in the nucleus and do not often move from one atom to another.

The number of protons in an atom is called its atomic number, which defines the type of element in the periodic table. For instance, all atoms with one proton are hydrogen atoms, while those with six protons are carbon atoms. The balance between proton charge and the number of electrons determines the overall charge of an atom or molecule. An imbalance between the two results in ions, which are charged atoms or molecules that play crucial roles in everything from electricity to biochemistry.

Neutrons are subatomic particles that, unlike protons and electrons, carry no net electric charge, represented by a charge of \( 0 \) coulombs. Neutrons are also located in the nucleus of atoms and have approximately the same mass as protons. The presence of neutrons in the core affects the isotope of an element, which in turn can influence the stability of the atom. For instance, isotopes with too few or too many neutrons compared to protons may be unstable, leading to radioactive decay.

Although neutrons themselves are electrically neutral, they play a critical role in the atomic nucleus. They act as a buffer between protons, reducing the electric repulsion between them due to their positive charges, and provide additional mass to the nucleus. This interplay is crucial in determining the properties of nuclei and subsequently the nature of the physical world at microscopic levels. In nuclear reactions, neutrons are central participants, interacting with both protons and electrons to facilitate processes like nuclear fusion and fission, which are fundamental for the energy generation in stars, including our sun.