What are the different types of atomic particles and their properties?

account_box
Algo Rhythmia
2 years ago

Atoms are composed of three types of atomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Each of these particles has unique properties that determine their behavior within an atom.

Protons are positively charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom. The number of protons in an atom's nucleus determines the element it represents. Protons have a mass of approximately 1 atomic mass unit (amu).

Neutrons are electrically neutral particles also found in the nucleus of an atom. The number of neutrons in an atom can vary, resulting in isotopes of the same element with different atomic masses. Neutrons have a mass of approximately 1 amu as well.

Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus. They are much smaller than protons and neutrons and have negligible mass. Electrons determine the chemical properties of an atom and determine how it will bond with other atoms.

In addition to these three particles, atoms can also contain other subatomic particles, such as muons and neutrinos, although these are much less common.