Yes, a particle can consist of only a single atom.
A single atom of hydrogen-1 is the smallest particle of hydrogen. A hydrogen-1 atom contains only one proton and one electron, and is the simplest atom.
The smallest particle in gold should in fact be gold. Gold is an element, Au, and thus should only contain gold atoms. You could also argue that some subatomic particle is the smallest particle in gold.
Helium-4 cannot emit an alpha particle, as an alpha particle is composed of two protons and two neutrons. Helium-4 already has two protons and two neutrons in its nucleus, so it cannot emit an alpha particle.
an "element" can be divided until it reaches a single atom. But a "molecule" can only be divided until it is a single molecule. For instance, water, H2O, is usually present in the millions to look like water. However, if you divide it up into smaller and smaller portions, say halves, you can only divide it until you have 2 Hydrogens and 1 Oxygen. If you divide it further, it is no longer water. It will become something else.
A positively charged nuclear particle is a proton. It is found in the nucleus of an atom and carries a positive electrical charge.
1 Proton only
A single atom of hydrogen-1 is the smallest particle of hydrogen. A hydrogen-1 atom contains only one proton and one electron, and is the simplest atom.
Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons (the nucleus of a helium atom). Therefore, Hydrogen is the only element that doesn't contain (and can't emit) an alpha particle.
An electron can jump from atom to atom.
The smallest particle in gold should in fact be gold. Gold is an element, Au, and thus should only contain gold atoms. You could also argue that some subatomic particle is the smallest particle in gold.
an element consists of only 1 type of atom !
neutron, but only in the isotope H-1 (protium)
Protons are the only '+' particles in the (nucleus of an) atom.
an atom
Helium-4 cannot emit an alpha particle, as an alpha particle is composed of two protons and two neutrons. Helium-4 already has two protons and two neutrons in its nucleus, so it cannot emit an alpha particle.
Hydrogen ion.
an "element" can be divided until it reaches a single atom. But a "molecule" can only be divided until it is a single molecule. For instance, water, H2O, is usually present in the millions to look like water. However, if you divide it up into smaller and smaller portions, say halves, you can only divide it until you have 2 Hydrogens and 1 Oxygen. If you divide it further, it is no longer water. It will become something else.