The part of an atom that has a positive charge is the?

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

Answer: (B)

The positive charge in an atom comes from the proton. Protons sit in the nucleus and each carries a +1 elementary charge. Neutrons have no charge, and electrons carry a negative charge while orbiting the nucleus. Quarks are the smaller particles that make up protons and neutrons, not the charged part you typically refer to when talking about the atom’s positive charge. In a neutral atom, the numbers of protons and electrons balance; more protons than electrons create a positive ion, while more electrons than protons create a negative ion.