What describes a positively charged object?

What describes a positively charged object?

• A. An object that has gained electrons
• B. An object that has lost electrons
• C. An object that has gained protons
• D. An object that has the same number of protons and electrons

Answer: (B)

Electric charge depends on the balance between positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons. If an object loses electrons, there are fewer negative charges to balance the positive charges of the protons, so the net charge becomes positive. In other words, leaving behind more protons than electrons makes the object positively charged. If electrons were gained, the object would become negatively charged; gaining protons would not describe a typical charging process and would change the atom itself. Keeping equal numbers of protons and electrons leaves the object neutral.

Electric charge depends on the balance between positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons. If an object loses electrons, there are fewer negative charges to balance the positive charges of the protons, so the net charge becomes positive. In other words, leaving behind more protons than electrons makes the object positively charged. If electrons were gained, the object would become negatively charged; gaining protons would not describe a typical charging process and would change the atom itself. Keeping equal numbers of protons and electrons leaves the object neutral.