Final answer:
Quarks are present in both protons and neutrons, but not in electrons. Protons and neutrons are composed of three quarks each, and they contribute to nearly all of an atom's mass. Gluons, which bind quarks together, account for the significant mass difference between protons and electrons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct comparison of protons, neutrons, and electrons in relation to quarks is that quarks are present in protons and neutrons, but not in electrons. Protons and neutrons, which are collectively known as nucleons, are much more massive compared to electrons, and both protons and neutrons are made up of three quarks. Electrons, on the other hand, are believed to have no substructure, and they are much less massive than protons or neutrons. Additionally, when protons are examined by scattering electrons at high energies, the evidence seems to imply that they are composed of three quarks carrying fractional charges.