A hydrogen nucleus is made of a single proton.
Hydrogen is the simplest element, and its most common isotope (protium) has a nucleus consisting solely of one proton. Unlike the nuclei of almost all other elements, it does not contain any neutrons. This unique characteristic makes hydrogen fundamental in various scientific fields. Other isotopes of hydrogen exist, such as deuterium (one proton and one neutron) and tritium (one proton and two neutrons), but the simplest and most abundant form contains only the single proton.
Here's a breakdown:
- Proton: A positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of every atom. It determines the element's atomic number.
- Neutron: A neutrally charged subatomic particle also found in the nucleus (except for protium).
- Isotopes: Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.
Therefore, the nucleus of the most common form of hydrogen consists of a single proton.
