What are valence quarks?

Answer 1

The quarks which determine the quantum numbersof hadrons are called valence quarks; apart from these, any hadron may contain an indefinite number of virtual (or sea) quarks, antiquarks, and gluons which do not influence its quantum numbers.[11]

There are two families of hadrons: baryons, with three valence quarks, and mesons, with a valence quark and an antiquark.[12]

The most common baryons are the proton and the neutron, the building blocks of the atomic nucleus

Answer 2

Valence quarks are the fundamental particles that make up protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom. These quarks have fractional electric charges (-1/3 or +2/3) and are held together by the strong nuclear force. Each proton is made up of two up quarks and one down quark, while each neutron is composed of two down quarks and one up quark.

Answer 3

Valence quarks are the basic building blocks of protons and neutrons, which are subatomic particles found in the nucleus of atoms. They are the fundamental particles that carry a fractional electric charge of either +2/3 (up quark) or -1/3 (down quark). Protons are composed of two up quarks and one down quark, while neutrons consist of one up quark and two down quarks. Valence quarks are held together by the strong nuclear force mediated by particles called gluons.