What is the charge of electrons in an atom?

Electrons are fundamental subatomic particles that possess a negative electric charge. This characteristic is essential for understanding atomic structure and the behavior of atoms during chemical reactions. In the context of an atom, electrons orbit the nucleus, which is composed of positively charged protons and neutrally charged neutrons. The negative charge of electrons balances the positive charge of protons, resulting in an overall neutral charge for the atom when the number of electrons equals the number of protons. This interplay of charges is foundational to the concepts of chemistry and physics, explaining how atoms interact and bond with one another to form molecules.