Chemical Forums

Chemistry Forums for Students => Physical Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Fergal on October 25, 2014, 10:57:06 AM

Title: Sub Atomic Particles the Same in All Element Atoms?
Post by: Fergal on October 25, 2014, 10:57:06 AM: Are protons, neutrons and electrons exactly the same, regardless of which elements they come from? For example, is a proton from an element of Hdrogen, exactly the same as a proton from an element of Carbon?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Sub Atomic Particles the Same in All Element Atoms?
Post by: Corribus on October 25, 2014, 11:42:24 AM: I'm going with "yes". but you may want to ask a physicist.
Title: Re: Sub Atomic Particles the Same in All Element Atoms?
Post by: Borek on October 25, 2014, 12:17:12 PM: If they were different, they would be named differently. Proton is a proton is a proton.
Title: Re: Sub Atomic Particles the Same in All Element Atoms?
Post by: Fergal on October 26, 2014, 05:58:08 AM: Thanks for your replies.

So is it true to say that all matter in the universe is made up of different combinations of protons, neutrons and electrons? In other words, only three "ingredients" are required to make any form of matter?
Title: Re: Sub Atomic Particles the Same in All Element Atoms?
Post by: Borek on October 26, 2014, 07:55:59 AM: Quote from: Fergal on October 26, 2014, 05:58:08 AM
In other words, only three "ingredients" are required to make any form of matter?

That would be going too far. Most of the observed matter - yes. Quark-gluon plasma (or quark matter) doesn't contain them. Dark matter can be made of postulated WIMPs, which are completely different particles from the proton, neutron and electron.

There exist whole zoo of subatomic particles, muons, pions, kaons, whatever - while they are mostly short lived, they definitely are forms of matter.

Does antimatter qualify as matter, or not?
Title: Re: Sub Atomic Particles the Same in All Element Atoms?
Post by: curiouscat on October 26, 2014, 09:03:59 AM: Quote from: Fergal on October 26, 2014, 05:58:08 AM
So is it true to say that all matter in the universe is made up of different combinations of protons, neutrons and electrons? In other words, only three "ingredients" are required to make any form of matter?

For most things you'd normally come across, for most practical purposes, yes.

The strictly correct answer, no.
Title: Re: Sub Atomic Particles the Same in All Element Atoms?
Post by: Fergal on October 26, 2014, 02:58:35 PM: Thanks again for your replies. Some of the info is a bit beyond my knowledge, but I do get the idea and it is very helpful.