The number of protons is what defines the element. Oxygen, for example, has eight protons. However, the number of neutrons in an atom can vary, leading to different forms of elements, called isotopes.

Image of the emission of 4 neutrons (blue spheres) from the exotic nucleus oxygen-28, which consists of 8 protons (red spheres) and 20 neutrons.

Researchers have discovered that superconducting nanowire photon detectors (SNSPDs), originally designed for detecting ...

In the water molecule, the oxygen and hydrogen atoms share electrons in covalent bonds. There are a total of 10 protons and 10 electrons, so the water molecule is neutral. The electron cloud model ...

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory have discovered a highly sensitive sensor ...

The nucleus of each atom contains protons and neutrons. While the number of protons defines the element (e.g., hydrogen, carbon, etc.) and the sum of the protons and neutrons gives the atomic mass, ...

Elements - the basic building blocks of chemistry, like hydrogen, oxygen, and uranium - are made up of single atoms. Atoms in turn, are made of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons ...