Final answer:
Protons are positively charged, not neutral, and exist alongside neutrons in the atom's nucleus. The positive charge of protons is balanced by the negative charge of electrons in a neutral atom. Neutrons are the subatomic particles that are uncharged.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that protons have no charge is false. Protons are subatomic particles found within the nucleus of an atom and they carry a positive charge, which is conventionally represented as +1.
Meanwhile, the neutron is another subatomic particle present in the nucleus that is electrically neutral, meaning it has no charge. Electrons, which are found in the space outside of the nucleus, have a negative charge also represented as -1. The number of protons and electrons in a neutral atom are equal, ensuring that the positive and negative charges balance each other out, resulting in no net charge.
For instance, if a neutral atom has 10 protons, it will also have 10 electrons. This equality in the number of protons and electrons is what makes an atom neutral. It is the neutrons in the nucleus that have no charge, contributing to the mass of the atom but not to its electrical charge. Hence, the statement about protons being neutral is incorrect, as it is the neutrons that are chargeless.