The negatively charged particle in an atom is the

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks which particle inside an atom carries a negative charge.

Step 2: Explain the concept An atom has three main subatomic particles:

| Particle | Charge | Location | |---|---|---| | Proton | +1 (positive) | Nucleus | | Neutron | 0 (neutral) | Nucleus | | Electron | -1 (negative) | Orbiting the nucleus in shells |

A positron is the antimatter counterpart of the electron. It carries a positive charge. It is not a normal constituent of an atom. It appears in processes such as beta-plus decay.

Step 3: Work through the options

• A. Electron: negative charge, found in the atom's shells. ✔
• B. Neutron: no charge, so it is not correct.
• C. Positron: positively charged and not a normal part of an atom, so it is not correct.
• D. Proton: positively charged, so it is not correct.

Step 4: Answer The negatively charged particle in an atom is the electron, which is option A.

💡 Exam tip: Remember it by the first letters:

• Proton = Positive
• Neutron = Neutral
• Electron = Egative (negative)

Be careful with "positron." It sounds like "electron" but it is positively charged, and examiners sometimes use it as a distractor.