What two fundamental particles compose the simple hydrogen atom?
Answer
One proton and one electron
The description of the most elemental substance confirms its structural simplicity. A standard, non-ionized hydrogen atom possesses the smallest possible configuration found in nature. This structure consists solely of a nucleus containing a single proton, which carries the positive charge, orbited by a single electron, which carries the negative charge. This configuration grants hydrogen its atomic number of one, making it the lightest element listed on the periodic table. This fundamental building block is critical because it forms the starting material for all subsequent nucleosynthesis processes occurring later within stars.
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