Question

students are completing a table about a particular subatomic particle that helps make up an atom. the students have filled in one cell of the table so far.

mass (amu)	location	charge

based on the information shown, which statement about the subatomic particle must be correct?

• its location is in the nucleus, because the particle is a proton or a neutron.
• its location is in the nucleus, because the particle is a neutron or an electron.
• its charge is +1, because the particle is a proton.
• its charge is 0, because the particle is a neutron.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze subatomic particles: protons (mass 1 amu, charge +1, nucleus), neutrons (mass 1 amu, charge 0, nucleus), electrons (mass ~0 amu, charge -1, electron cloud). The table has mass 1 amu.

• Option 1: Protons/neutrons have mass 1 amu and are in the nucleus. This is correct as both have mass 1 amu and nucleus location.
• Option 2: Electrons have ~0 mass, so this is wrong.
• Option 3: We can't be sure it's a proton (could be neutron), so charge +1 isn't definite.
• Option 4: We can't be sure it's a neutron (could be proton), so charge 0 isn't definite.

Only Option 1 is always correct given mass 1 amu (proton/neutron, both in nucleus).

Answer:

A. Its location is in the nucleus, because the particle is a proton or a neutron.