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Understanding electric charge begins with delving into the tiny world of subatomic particles. These are the building blocks of atoms and include protons, electrons, and neutrons. Protons carry a positive charge, and are found in the nucleus, the atom's central hub. Electrons, which have a negative charge, orbit this nucleus, creating an electrically balanced environment when their number equals that of the protons.

Neutrons, the third type of subatomic particle, are also located in the nucleus and have no charge. They play a vital role in adding mass to the atom and affecting its stability, but they don't contribute to the electrical properties. When exploring the concept of charge, it's the protons and electrons we're most interested in since their imbalance leads to an atom being electrically charged.

Let's zero in on the carriers of electrical charge: protons and electrons. The number of these particles in an atom is at the heart of electrical charge. Protons, with a positive charge, reside in the atom's nucleus alongside neutrons. Electrons, which carry a negative charge, move around the nucleus in a cloud.

Under normal circumstances, atoms have equal numbers of protons and electrons, resulting in a neutral charge. However, an atom can gain or lose electrons through various processes. When this happens, the balance is disturbed, and the atom becomes electrically charged, either positively (cation) or negatively (anion). This gain or loss of electrons is fundamentally what we refer to as ionization—a key concept in chemistry and physics that explains many phenomena in the natural world.

The behavior of electrically charged objects is governed by electrical forces. These are invisible forces that particles exert on one another due to their charge. The elementary rule that applies here is that opposite charges attract, while like charges repel each other. This principle is what allows electrons to be attracted to and held around the positively charged nucleus, enabling atoms to form stable structures.

These electrical forces are not just a curiosity at the atomic level; they're powerful enough to influence everyday objects. For example, the reason a balloon sticks to a wall after being rubbed on your hair is due to these electrical forces at play between the charged balloon and the neutral wall. In larger quantities, these forces can create lightning, power motors, and enable the vast array of electronic devices we use daily.