Because that way the mathematics of the physics works and correctly predicts experimental results.
Yes, quarks have mass. They are elementary particles that make up protons and neutrons, which in turn form atomic nuclei. The masses of different types of quarks vary, with the top quark being the heaviest.
Protons and neutrons are both hadrons, and any hadron is comprised of three of six quarks. A hadron must have an integer charge in terms of a proton's charge (+1), with quarks having a charge of either +2/3 or -1/3.
The number of protons and neutrons is not equal. The equality is not a rule.
Quarks must combine in twos or threes because of the strong nuclear force that governs their interactions. This force is what binds quarks together to form larger particles, such as protons and neutrons. Combining in twos or threes is the most stable configuration due to the way the strong force operates in the quantum realm.
Lithium has three protons and three electrons. The number of electrons always equals the number of protons. Lithium has two isotopes, one with three neutrons and one with four neutrons.
Protons and Neutrons
it must contain 6 protons, 6 electons and 6 neutrons.
Quarks and leptons must combine in twos or threes due to the principles of quantum chromodynamics and the Standard Model of particle physics. Quarks combine in groups of three to form baryons (like protons and neutrons) or in pairs to form mesons, adhering to the requirement of color charge conservation. Leptons, on the other hand, exist as individual particles or in pairs with their corresponding neutrinos, but they do not combine to form composite particles like quarks do. This structure ensures the stability of matter and reflects the fundamental symmetries and conservation laws governing particle interactions.
A nitride ion (N³⁻) has a charge of -3, meaning it has three more electrons than protons. Nitrogen has 7 protons in its nucleus, so the nitride ion has 7 protons and 10 electrons. The number of neutrons can vary depending on the isotope, but the most common isotope of nitrogen has 7 neutrons, giving a total of 7 protons, 10 electrons, and 7 neutrons in a nitride ion.
The mass is protons + neutrons. So, if the mass is 9 and it has 5 neutrons, then there must be FOUR (4) protons. This would be the element beryllium (Be).
All atoms of sodium must contain 11 protons in their nucleus.
The number of protons determine what element it is, the number of neutrons determine what isotope it is.