What charge do protons carry?

Protons carry a positive charge, which is fundamental to their role in atomic structure. Each proton is identified as having a charge of +1. This positive charge is key to establishing the identity of an atom because the number of protons in the nucleus defines the element itself — for example, hydrogen has one proton, while carbon has six. The positive charge of protons also plays a crucial role in the attraction to negatively charged electrons, facilitating the formation of stable atoms.

In contrast, a negative charge is associated with electrons, while neutrons carry no charge at all, resulting in the neutral charge option being accurate only for neutrons. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the essential characteristic of protons as positively charged subatomic particles.