Protons and neutrons are found in the nucleus and have positive and neutral charges, respectively from "summary" of Atoms Under the Floorboards by Chris Woodford
Within an atom, protons and neutrons are found in a tight little ball at its center, called the nucleus. Protons carry a positive charge, which is essential for holding the nucleus together against the powerful repulsive forces of the positively charged protons. Neutrons, on the other hand, are electrically neutral and act as a kind of nuclear glue, helping to bind the protons together. In a sense, you could think of protons as the "glitter" and neutrons as the "glue" that hold the nucleus together. The reason why protons and neutrons are found in the nucleus is due to the nature of their charges. Protons, with their positive charge, are attracted to the negatively charged electrons orbiting the nucleus. This attraction is what keeps the protons confined within the nucleus, despite the repulsive forces between them. Neutrons, being electrically neutral, are neither attracted nor repelled by the electrons, allowing them to reside alongside the protons in the nucleus. The presence of protons and neutrons in the nucleus gives the atom its mass. Protons and neutrons have roughly the same mass, making up the majority of an atom's overall mass. Electrons, which are much lighter, contribute very little to the total mass of an atom. This concentration of mass in the nucleus is what gives atoms their weight and allows us to measure their mass using tools like a balance or a scale. In summary, protons and neutrons are crucial components of an atom, residing in the nucleus and carrying positive and neutral charges, respectively. Their interactions within the nucleus help to stabilize the atom and give it its mass. Understanding the roles of protons and neutrons in the nucleus is fundamental to grasping the structure and behavior of atoms.
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