What results in the creation of an electric charge?

The creation of an electric charge is fundamentally linked to the behavior of electrons, which are subatomic particles with a negative charge. When electrons are added to an atom, the overall charge of that atom becomes negative, resulting in a negatively charged ion. Conversely, when electrons are removed, the atom loses its negative charge, creating a positively charged ion.

In contrast, protons, which are positively charged, remain fixed within the atomic nucleus and do not readily change in number during typical chemical reactions. Changing the number of neutrons does not affect the electric charge of an atom, as neutrons are neutral particles with no charge. Lastly, adding or removing atoms does not directly create an electric charge but rather changes the number of particles within a substance without altering the charge of the individual atoms involved. Therefore, the correct response highlights that changes in the number of electrons are what lead to the generation of electric charge.