Energy of a Hydrogen Atom
One of the fundamental concepts in chemistry and physics is understanding the energy levels of atoms. In the case of a hydrogen atom, the energy is typically discussed in the context of the electron within the atom.

Electron Energy in a Hydrogen Atom
In a hydrogen atom, the electron is bound to the nucleus by electrostatic forces. The energy associated with the electron in its orbit around the nucleus can be calculated using the Schrödinger equation. The result of this calculation shows that the energy levels of the electron in a hydrogen atom are quantized, meaning they can only have certain discrete values.

Energy Levels in a Hydrogen Atom
The energy levels in a hydrogen atom are negative, with the lowest energy level (ground state) being -13.6 electron volts (eV). This negative energy value indicates that it takes energy input to remove the electron from its bound state in the atom.

Positive Energy States
In the context of a hydrogen atom, a positive energy value would imply that the electron is no longer bound to the nucleus. This situation would occur when the electron has been ionized, meaning it has been given enough energy to escape the electrostatic attraction of the nucleus.

Conclusion
In summary, the energy of a hydrogen atom is indeed negative, specifically for the bound electron within the atom. Positive energy values would be associated with ionized states where the electron is no longer bound to the nucleus.