ELEMENTARY PARTICLES

Elementary particles

Atoms are made of elementary particles. The most important elementary particles in the human body are:

1. Protons
Protons have a positive charge.

2. Neutrons
Neutrons have no charge.

3. Electrons
Electrons have a negative charge.

Protons and neutrons form the nucleus of an atom. Electrons move around the nucleus and take part in chemical reactions.

These particles create everything in the universe — atoms, molecules, cells, and living organisms. Even the human body, with all its complexity, is built from elementary particles.

Although they are extremely small, elementary particles determine:

• the structure of matter
• how atoms interact
• how energy is transferred

Without elementary particles, matter and life would not exist.