Protons are subatomic particles that are part of the nucleus of the atom.
Proton comes from a Greek word meaning "first" . It is a subatomic particle with a positive electrical charge that, together with neutrons , forms the nucleus of atoms . The atomic number of the proton determines the chemical properties of said atom.
We must make clear that the proton was discovered in the early stages of the 20th century by the scientist Ernest Rutherford. Specifically, in 1918 he announced the existence of this element. However, other figures who addressed this subject are JJ Thompson and Eugene Goldstein.
In physics and chemistry , the proton is the hydrogen cation. In this sense, acids are proton emitters and bases are proton acceptors. In chemistry, it can also be used as the atomic number of protons that an atom in question has.
Composition of the proton
Protons are classified as baryons (subatomic particles made up of three quarks). In the specific case of protons, they are composed of two up quarks and one down quark. Their antimatter equivalent is the antiproton or negative proton , with the same magnitude of charge but opposite sign.
The action of the electromagnetic force causes the charge of the proton to be opposite and equal (in absolute value) to the charge of the electron.
Protons have a positive electrical charge.
Differences with electrons
Normally, we usually talk about protons and electrons at the same time, which have the characteristic of being opposites.
First of all, it should be noted that protons have a series of characteristics that define them and differentiate them from others. Specifically, these are: they have a positive charge, they can be found in the nucleus of the atom in question and their mass number is the sum of the protons and neutrons.
Secondly, as we have mentioned above, electrons are presented as the opposite of protons and are defined by these identifying features: they do not have what would be a fixed position, they have a negative charge, they have a mass so small that it is basically insignificant and that makes them add to the mass... To all this we should add the fact that they have the particularity of being found in the d, f, s and p orbitals.
Spectroscopy, accelerators and protons
The properties of protons allow for nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy , a technique that involves applying a magnetic field to a substance to detect the shell around the protons in the nucleus. From this information, the structure of the molecules studied can be reconstructed.
This type of technique is possible because the proton has a spin (intrinsic angular momentum) and therefore a magnetic moment. The proton also complies with the exclusion principle.
Nuclear physics, on the other hand, uses protons in accelerators to attack nuclei and produce fundamental particles.