Which statement about electrons is accurate?

Which statement about electrons is accurate?

• A. Electrons are located inside the nucleus.
• B. Protons have negative charge.
• C. Neutrons carry a positive charge.
• D. Electrons are negatively charged particles that occupy orbitals around the nucleus.

Answer: (D)

The basic idea here is that atoms have a nucleus containing protons and neutrons, while electrons live outside the nucleus in regions called orbitals around it, and these electrons carry a negative charge. That combination—negative charge and location in orbitals around the nucleus—is what makes the statement accurate. Electrons aren’t inside the nucleus, so the first choice is not correct. Protons are positively charged, not negative, so the second choice is incorrect. Neutrons have no net charge (they are neutral), so the third choice is also false. The concept that electrons are negatively charged and occupy orbitals around the nucleus fits both the charge and the typical location of electrons in atoms.

The basic idea here is that atoms have a nucleus containing protons and neutrons, while electrons live outside the nucleus in regions called orbitals around it, and these electrons carry a negative charge. That combination—negative charge and location in orbitals around the nucleus—is what makes the statement accurate.

Electrons aren’t inside the nucleus, so the first choice is not correct. Protons are positively charged, not negative, so the second choice is incorrect. Neutrons have no net charge (they are neutral), so the third choice is also false. The concept that electrons are negatively charged and occupy orbitals around the nucleus fits both the charge and the typical location of electrons in atoms.