3.1.1 Atomic Structure

• Protons have a relative charge of +1 and are found in the nucleus.
• An element’s atomic number is the number of protons it possesses.
• All atoms of the same element have the same number of protons.
• Electrons have a relative charge of -1 and are found in fixed orbits around the nucleus.
• In any atom, the total number of negative electrons equals the number of positive protons, meaning atoms have no overall electric charge.
• Neutrons have a relative charge of 0 and are neutral.
• Like protons, neutrons are found in the nucleus.