Protons:
- Location: Protons are located in the nucleus of the atom.
- Charge: Protons carry a positive electric charge, which gives atoms their overall positive charge.
- Mass: Protons have a relative mass of approximately 1 atomic mass unit (amu).
Neutrons:
- Location: Neutrons are also located in the nucleus.
- Charge: Neutrons have a neutral electric charge.
- Mass: Neutrons have a relative mass close to 1 amu, similar to protons.
Electrons:
- Location: Electrons orbit the nucleus in specific shells or energy levels.
- Charge: Electrons carry a negative electric charge, equal in magnitude to the positive charge of protons.
- Mass: Electrons have a much smaller mass compared to protons and neutrons, with a relative mass of approximately 0.00055 amu.
The number of protons in the nucleus determines the atomic number of an element and distinguishes one element from another. The number of neutrons, on the other hand, can vary among different isotopes of the same element. Isotopes have the same number of protons but differ in the number of neutrons.
