What particles orbit around the nucleus of an atom?

Electrons are the particles that orbit around the nucleus of an atom. In the structure of an atom, protons and neutrons form the nucleus, which is at the center, while electrons occupy various energy levels or orbitals that are located around the nucleus. This arrangement allows electrons to be involved in chemical bonding and interactions, which are essential to the behavior of atoms in different substances.

Electrons have a negative charge, which plays a vital role in their attraction to the positively charged protons in the nucleus, keeping them in a state of orbit. Their movement and arrangement in orbitals determine the chemical properties and reactivity of elements.

Protons, while they reside in the nucleus and have a positive charge, do not orbit around it. Neutrons, also located in the nucleus, are neutral particles that contribute to the atomic mass but do not have a role in orbiting. Photons, on the other hand, are particles of light that do not have mass or charge and are not associated with the structure of atoms in terms of atomic particles.