Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

If different elements are just differentiated by amount/arrangement of electrons in atoms, could we (one day in future) control those amounts/arrangements to create whatever element to desire?


-Thank you

Hi devilvert,

Elements are not differentiated by the number of electrons. Different elements could have the same number of electrons. The number of protons is what sets atoms apart, and we are already playing with particle colliders to create new elements.

-IlI