Do atoms have protons and electrons?

Answer 1

Yes. All atoms of an element contain the same number of protons. That is the defining characteristic of an element.

Isotopes are variants that have differing numbers of neutrons. However, when the proton number changes (through bombardment in a particle accelerator or through radioactive decay), the differing proton number makes it, by definition, a new element.

For example, carbon-12 and carbon-14 are isotopes containing different numbers of neutrons. However, both atoms are the same element, carbon, because each has the same number of protons (six).

However, when uranium-238 loses an alpha particle (a helium-4 nucleus, consisting of 2 protons and 2 neutrons), it decays into a different element (thorium-234), because it now has a different number of protons (90).

When an atom decays via beta decay, one of its neutrons decays into a proton, an electron, and an antineutrino. The important part here is the additional proton, which slightly decreases its mass and increases its proton count. Since the baryon count (neutrons + protons) did not change, its Atomic Mass number does not change.

Example:

Lead-210 (82 protons, 128 neutrons = mass of 210)

--> decays by beta emission (one of its neutrons decays into proton + electron + antineutrino...electron and antineutrino are released...proton stays in nucleus)

--> becomes bismuth-210 (83 protons, 127 neutrons = mass of 210)...different element...same atomic mass (in terms of baryon count alone, that is).

Answer 2

No the number of protons in an atom is the deciding factor to the element. There are many elements so not every atom has the same number of protons.

Answer 3

Atoms contain protons, neutrons and electrons; protons and neutrons (nucleons) contain quarks and gluons.

Answer 4

Not all of them do

Answer 5

Yep.