* Protons: Positively charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom.

* Neutrons: Neutrally charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom.

* Electrons: Negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus in shells or energy levels.

Here's a breakdown:

* Protons and neutrons make up the atom's nucleus, which is located at the center of the atom. The nucleus is dense and contains almost all of the atom's mass.

* Electrons are much smaller than protons and neutrons and orbit the nucleus in a cloud-like region.

The number of protons in an atom determines what element it is. For example, all carbon atoms have 6 protons. The number of neutrons can vary, leading to isotopes of the same element. The number of electrons determines the atom's charge.