What Is The Smallest Complete Particle Of An Element?

The smallest unit of an element is the atom. An atom is made up of neutrons, protons and electrons. Neutron has no charge on it. Electron has negative charge and proton has a positive charge. The number of electrons and number of protons present in an atom are equal. An atom of an element is unstable if it has less than eight electrons in its outer most shell. Atoms combine with other atoms of same element or different elements to become stable or to lose energy. Moreover, ions are formed due to the inequality of number of electrons and number of protons in an atom.