Electrons need particles with opposite charge to stay attracted, so need an equal number of protons in the middle. It is possible, however, to have an atom with no neutron. Electrons don’t need neutrons to stay in place.

If I’m understanding this properly, in order to be an atom, it has to have a minimum of 1 Proton.
Makeup Of An Atom

@LadyMarissa Thanks. What would a group of neutrons be called then?

A Neutron (laughing)

Number of Neutrons = Mass Number – Atomic Number
Number of Neutrons = Mass Number – Number of Protons = 1 – 1 = 0
The total number of protons and neutrons are together known as nucleons in an atomic nucleus

Seems logical to me that since you have to have atleast 1 proton in order to have an atom & you can have 0 neutrons in an atom, that you can’t have an atom with just 1 neutron so it’s reduced down to being nothing more than a neutron.

I’ll be the first to admit that I might be wrong!!! laughing

It is the number of protons in an atom that account for an element’s chemical properties. The number of neutrons may vary.

I don’t the exact reasons, but under ordinary circumstances, the atomic forces keep neutron from clumping together. However, the core of a neutron start is believed to be made up of neutrons. For more information on conjectured neutron clumps see link

Protons are fundamental to atoms. Without protons you have no atoms.

Protons control how many electrons are around each atom. Electrons control what the electron cloud (valence) looks like, which then controls the chemical properties of that atom. Electron valence shell full means it’s not very reactive e.g. helium. Missing one electron from the valence shell means each of those atoms desperately wants to steal one from another atom e.g. fluorine (dangerous!).