1. Electron

Symbol: e⁻

Charge: -1 (negative)

Mass: About 1/1836 of a proton (very, very small)

Location: Outside the nucleus, moving in energy levels or shells

Movement: Electrons move very fast and form an “electron cloud”

Function:

Responsible for electricity

Involved in chemical bonding and reactions

The number of electrons equals protons in a neutral atom

🔴 2. Proton

Symbol: p⁺

Charge: +1 (positive)

Mass: 1 atomic mass unit (1 amu)

Location: Inside the nucleus (center of the atom)

Function:

Determines the atomic number (e.g., Hydrogen has 1 proton → Atomic number = 1)

Gives the element its identity

Attracts negatively charged electrons

⚪ 3. Neutron

Symbol: n⁰

Charge: 0 (neutral – no charge)

Mass: Almost same as proton (1 amu)

Location: Inside the nucleus

Function:

Adds mass to the atom

Helps hold protons together in the nucleus (since protons repel each other)

Helps form isotopes (same element, different neutron numbers)