Editing Proton

= protons – structure, properties, and importance =

== what is a proton? ==
A '''proton''' is a type of subatomic particle found in the [[nucleus]] of every [[atom]]. It carries a single **positive electric charge** (+1e) and is one of the three main particles that make up an atom, alongside [[neutrons]] and [[electrons]].

The number of protons in an atom determines its [[atomic number]] and ultimately defines the element itself.

== basic properties of protons ==
* **symbol**: p⁺  
* **charge**: +1  
* **mass**: approximately 1 atomic mass unit (amu) or 1.6726 × 10⁻²⁷ kg  
* **location**: inside the [[nucleus]] of the atom  
* **stability**: stable in all known cases

== discovery ==
Protons were discovered by British physicist [[ernest rutherford]] in 1917 during his famous gold foil experiment. He observed that hydrogen nuclei were emitted during nuclear reactions and named these positively charged particles "protons."

== role of protons in the atom ==
* **identity of an element**: the number of protons equals the element’s [[atomic number]].
* **charge balance**: in a neutral atom, the number of protons equals the number of [[electrons]].
* **mass of the atom**: protons contribute significantly to the [[atomic mass]] along with [[neutrons]].
* **chemical behavior**: protons influence the atom’s interaction with other atoms, particularly through their effect on [[electron configuration]].

== protons vs neutrons vs electrons ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ comparison of subatomic particles
! particle !! charge !! mass (approx) !! location
|-
| [[proton]] || +1 || 1 amu || nucleus
|-
| [[neutron]] || 0 || 1 amu || nucleus
|-
| [[electron]] || −1 || 1/1836 amu || electron cloud/orbitals
|}

== protons and isotopes ==
While all atoms of a given element have the same number of protons, they can have different numbers of [[neutrons]]. These variants are called [[isotopes]].

Example:
* carbon-12 and carbon-14 both have 6 protons, but 6 and 8 neutrons respectively.

== protons in nuclear reactions ==
Protons play a key role in:
* [[nuclear fusion]] – hydrogen nuclei (protons) fuse to form helium in stars.
* [[nuclear fission]] – changes in the number of protons during radioactive decay can transform one element into another.
* [[ionization]] – loss or gain of electrons doesn't change the number of protons, but alters the atom's net charge.

== importance of protons ==
* fundamental to the identity of matter
* determine an element’s position in the [[periodic table]]
* drive nuclear reactions in stars
* used in [[proton therapy]] for cancer treatment

== see also ==
* [[atomic number]]
* [[nucleus]]
* [[neutrons]]
* [[electrons]]
* [[periodic table]]
* [[ernest rutherford]]

== references and further reading ==
* [https://www.khanacademy.org Khan Academy – Atomic structure]
* [https://www.rsc.org Royal Society of Chemistry]
* NCERT Chemistry Textbooks
* [https://physics.info/ The Physics Hypertextbook]

== disclaimer ==
''This article is intended for [[educational]] and [[academic]] purposes only. It is designed to support science learning in school-level MediaWiki environments. For in-depth scientific study, consult peer-reviewed sources and curriculum-based textbooks.''