Which particles in the nucleus are neutral?

Neutrons are the particles in the nucleus of an atom that are neutral, meaning they carry no electric charge. The nucleus itself is composed of protons, which are positively charged, and neutrons, which provide stability to the nucleus without contributing to its overall charge. The presence of neutrons helps to bind the nucleus together, countering the repulsive forces between the positively charged protons due to their like charges.

In contrast, protons carry a positive charge, while electrons, which are found outside the nucleus, possess a negative charge. Ions are atoms or molecules that have gained or lost electrons and carry a net electrical charge. Thus, neutrons fundamentally differ from these particles in that they are electrically neutral, playing a crucial role in the atomic structure without contributing to the atom's charge balance.