The proton is a subatomic pairticle wi the seembol
p
or
p⁺
an a positive electric charge o 1 elementary charge. Ane or mair protons are present in the nucleus o ilka atom. The nummer o protons in ilka atom is its atomic nummer. The name proton wis gien tae the hydrogen nucleus bi Ernest Rutherford in 1920, acause in previous years he haed discovered that the hydrogen nucleus (kent tae be the lichtest nucleus) coud be extractit frae the nuclei o nitrogen bi collision, an wis sicweys a candidate tae be a fundamental pairticle an biggin block o nitrogen, an aw ither hivier atomic nuclei.