In the nucleus of an atom, there are two different types of subatomic particles which can be found, protons and neutrons. These two particles are approximately equal in mass; a proton (or a neutron) weighs about 2x10-23 grams each. Although they weigh so little, protons and neutrons make up 99.9% of the mass of an atom, so an atoms massive is also quite small. Though their location and mass are the same, there are several differences between the two particles.
Protons:
Protons are
subatomic particles with a positive electrically charge. If an atom
is neutral in charge, there must be an equal number of protons and electrons
in the atom; a neutral charge is typically for any element found in nature.
Elements are described and separated by the number of protons in their
nucleus. The number of protons in each atom of an element is given
by the element's Atomic Number, which can be found on the Periodic Table.
The proton was first identified by Wilhelm Wien in 1902, and its existence
was then confirmed by J.J. Thompson in 1906.
Neutron:
Neutrons are
subatomic particle with no net electrically charge. The number of
neutrons in one atom of an element can be found by subtracting the
Atomic Number of element from it Mass Number (the total number of
protons and neutrons in an atom). Elements can contain any number
of neutrons in their nucleus. Hydrogen does not have an neutrons
in its nucleus (the only element with this characteristic) but other heavier
atoms have more neutrons than protons in their nuclei. The neutron
was first discovered by Sir James Chadwick in 1932..