Which particle orbits around the nucleus of an atom?

The particle that orbits around the nucleus of an atom is the electron. In atomic structure, electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles that inhabit various energy levels or orbitals surrounding the positively charged nucleus, which contains protons and neutrons.

Electrons are attracted to the nucleus due to the electromagnetic force, which pulls negatively charged electrons towards the positively charged protons within the nucleus. This arrangement creates a balance that keeps the electrons in their respective orbits. The movement of electrons dictates not only the chemical properties of an element but also how atoms bond with one another to form molecules.

The other particles mentioned, such as neutrons and protons, are found within the nucleus itself. Neutrons are neutral particles that contribute to the mass of the atom but do not partake in the electric charge interactions that define atomic bonding. Protons, being positively charged, also reside in the nucleus, and their number determines the atomic number of an element. Alpha particles, on the other hand, are not found orbiting an atom; instead, they are emitted during certain types of radioactive decay processes and consist of two protons and two neutrons.