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An atom is made up of smaller parts, called protons, neutrons and electrons. The important factor that differentiates one kind of atom from another is the number of protons that it has. Each element, then, is different because it has a unique number of protons. Hydrogen, for example has one proton; by this we mean that each atom of hydrogen contains a single proton. Each helium atom contains 2 protons. Each iron atom contains 26 protons. Each uranium atom contains 92 protons. Every atom contains electrons as well, and most atoms also contain neutrons.

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