Question

State three differences between protons and elections

Answers

GPT-4o mini
Protons and electrons are fundamental particles in an atom, but they have several key differences:

1. **Charge**:
- **Protons** have a positive charge (+1 elementary charge).
- **Electrons** have a negative charge (-1 elementary charge).

2. **Mass**:
- **Protons** are significantly more massive than electrons, with a mass of approximately 1 atomic mass unit (amu), or about 1836 times the mass of an electron.
- **Electrons** have a much smaller mass, roughly 1/1836 of a proton.

3. **Location in the Atom**:
- **Protons** are located in the nucleus of an atom, contributing to the atomic mass and positively influencing the overall charge of the nucleus.
- **Electrons** orbit around the nucleus in various energy levels or shells, and they play a key role in chemical bonding and the behavior of atoms.

These differences contribute to the overall structure and behavior of atoms.