Which describes a negatively charged object?

• A. Neutral
• B. Negative
• C. Positive
• D. Ionic

Answer: (B)

A negatively charged object has an excess of electrons. Electrons carry negative charge, while protons carry positive charge. When there are more electrons than protons, the net charge becomes negative. A neutral object has equal numbers of protons and electrons, so it has no net charge. A positively charged object has fewer electrons than protons, giving a net positive charge. The term ionic isn’t describing a state of charge for an object by itself; it refers to charged particles or compounds formed by ions. For a concrete example, rubbing a balloon on hair can transfer electrons to the balloon, making it negatively charged. So the description that fits a negatively charged object is having an excess of electrons.