Positively charged subatomic particles found in the nucleus of atoms. The number of protons determines an element's atomic number and chemical identity.
From Greek 'protos' meaning 'first,' coined by Ernest Rutherford in 1920 because protons were considered the first or primary nuclear particle. The term reflects the fundamental importance of protons in atomic structure.
Every hydrogen atom in your body contains exactly one proton - the same protons that were forged in the first few minutes after the Big Bang. When you drink water, you're consuming particles that are literally older than the Earth, making you a walking museum of cosmic history.
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