If the number of neutrons N is 2 then there must be 4 - 2 = 2 protons. There are 2 protons in the helium nucleus. If the atom loses one or more electrons, it will have more protons than electrons ...

For example, a helium atom has an atomic mass of 4, but an atomic number (or positive charge) of 2. Since electrons have almost no mass, it seemed that something besides the protons in the nucleus ...

The “lead” of a pencil is actually made of a substance called graphite which is made of carbon atoms. The picture shows a close-up of one carbon atom. A hydrogen atom has one proton as the nucleus and ...

To get to grips with it, it helps to first understand that atoms, the basic units of all matter, are made of protons, neutrons and electrons ... an atom of the element helium.

The electrons circulate around the nucleus ... which is what happens to radioactive isotopes. Helium, with two protons and ...

Protons have a charge of +1. Electrons have a charge of -1. Neutrons are neutral, as its name implies. A stable atom has a net charge of 0. In other words, it has an equal number of protons and ...

The electrons circulate around the nucleus ... which is what happens to radioactive isotopes. Helium, with two protons and two neutrons, is the lightest "doubly magic" nucleus.