Which two subatomic particles each have a mass of approximately 1 amu?

• A. Electron and proton
• B. Neutron and electron
• C. Proton and neutron
• D. Electron and positron

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the three main subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons.
2. Understand that the atomic mass unit (amu) is a unit used to express the mass of atomic and subatomic particles, where 1 amu is approximately the mass of a proton or neutron.
3. Know that protons and neutrons each have a mass close to 1 amu, while electrons have a much smaller mass (about 1/1836 of a proton).
4. Recognize that positrons are the antimatter counterparts of electrons and have the same mass as electrons, which is much less than 1 amu.
5. Conclude that the two subatomic particles with masses approximately equal to 1 amu are the proton and the neutron.