The number of quarks in a Hydrogen atom is:

Correct answer: A. 3

  • A. 3
  • B. 1
  • C. 2
  • D. 4

Explanation

The composition of a Hydrogen atom is such that it has one proton and one electron. A proton is a hadron; hadrons are made of three quarks that can have one of six flavors. The quark composition is such that the overall charge of the particle is maintained. A proton has the following flavors of quarks: u u d The charges on the flavors add up to equal +1 (2/3 + 2/3 - 1/3) Hence, a hydrogen atom is made up of 3 quarks. The electron is not a hadron, it is a lepton, hence it does not have any quarks.

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