Here's a breakdown:
* Hydrogen (H): Has 1 proton and 1 electron. Its simplest form is a single atom, represented by the symbol H.
* Helium (He): Has 2 protons and 2 electrons. It exists as a single atom, represented by the symbol He.
Key Differences:
* Number of protons: This is the defining characteristic of an element. Hydrogen has 1 proton, while helium has 2.
* Number of electrons: In a neutral atom, the number of electrons equals the number of protons. So, hydrogen has 1 electron, and helium has 2.
The formulas H and He simply represent the elemental symbols for these atoms. They don't indicate any specific bonds or molecules.
