Final answer:
Subatomic particles include electrons with a negative charge, protons with a positive charge, and neutrons with no charge. Protons and electrons have equal but opposite charges of ±1.602 × 10^-19 coulombs, while neutrons are neutral. Electrons are much lighter than protons and neutrons, contributing minimally to the mass of the atom.
Step-by-step explanation:
The charges of subatomic particles are distinct and fundamental properties that contribute to the structure of atoms. There are three primary subatomic particles: electrons, protons, and neutrons. Electrons have a negative charge, represented by a charge value of -1.602 × 10-19 coulombs. Protons have a positive charge, with a charge value of +1.602 × 10-19 coulombs, which is equal in magnitude but opposite in sign to that of electrons, making them balance each other in a neutral atom. Neutrons, the third type of subatomic particle, have no charge and are neutral, contributing to the atomic mass but not to the charge of the atom.
The electron is the lightest of these particles, with a mass of about 0.00055 amu (atomic mass units), which is significantly lighter compared to the proton, with a mass of 1.0073 amu, and the neutron, with a mass close to that of a proton at 1.0087 amu. It is interesting to note that due to what is known as the mass defect, the combined mass of an atom's subatomic particles does not exactly equal the total atomic mass, but this concept is explored further in nuclear chemistry.