Question

Which statement about the atomic nucleus is correct? a. The nucleus is made of protons and neutrons and has a negative charge. b. The nucleus is made of protons and neutrons and has a positive charge. c. The nucleus is made of electrons and has a positive charge. d. The nucleus is made of electrons and has a negative charge.

Answer 1

The atomic nucleus is made of protons and neutrons and carries a positive charge, due to the presence of positively charged protons. So the correct option is b.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement about the atomic nucleus is: 'The nucleus is made of protons and neutrons and has a positive charge.' Specifically, the nucleus consists of protons and neutrons packed tightly together, where protons carry a unit of positive charge (+e) and neutrons have no charge. Electrons, which have a negative charge, are not part of the nucleus; they orbit around it. Hence, the nucleus is positively charged because of the protons. As for the mass of an atom, it is largely due to the protons and neutrons, since electrons have a negligible mass.

Answer 2

"b. The nucleus is made of protons and neutrons and has a positive charge" is the only option that is true about the atomic nucleus. The protons give it a positive charge.