What subatomic particle carries a negative charge?

The subatomic particle that carries a negative charge is the electron. Electrons are fundamental components of atoms and are located in the electron cloud that surrounds the nucleus, which contains positively charged protons and neutral neutrons. This negative charge is crucial because it helps balance the positive charge of protons in the nucleus, enabling the atom to maintain overall electrical neutrality. Electrons play a key role in chemical bonding and electricity, as their movement and interactions are fundamental to how atoms connect and react with one another.

While protons are positively charged and neutrons carry no charge, ions refer to atoms or molecules that have gained or lost electrons, thus acquiring a net electrical charge, but they are not specific particles themselves. Understanding the role of the electron helps to clarify the structure and behavior of matter at a fundamental level.