How do the masses of the proton and the neutron compare with the mass of the electron?

• A. The proton, neutron, and electron all have approximately the same mass.
• B. The proton has a much greater mass than the neutron, but both are lighter than the electron.
• C. Both the proton and the neutron have much greater mass than the electron.
• D. The electron has a greater mass than both the proton and the neutron.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the approximate masses of the subatomic particles: the proton and neutron each have masses close to 1 atomic mass unit (amu), while the electron's mass is much smaller.
2. Understand that the proton's mass is about 1.007 amu and the neutron's mass is about 1.009 amu, which are very close to each other in value.
3. Note that the electron's mass is approximately 0.0005 amu, which is roughly 1/1836 the mass of a proton or neutron.
4. Compare these values to see that both the proton and neutron have masses that are significantly greater than the electron's mass.
5. Conclude that the correct statement is: Both the proton and the neutron have much greater mass than the electron.