PROTON is a subatomic particle found in the nucleus of every atom, carrying a positive electric charge equal in magnitude but opposite to that of an electron. The word comes from Greek "protos" meaning "first." Protons determine an element's atomic number and chemical properties. In word games, PROTON is a 6-letter word worth 8 base points in Scrabble.
Yes. PROTON is in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools and scores 8 points in Scrabble, 10 in Words With Friends and 9 in Wordfeud (base tile values, no board multipliers). Always check the dictionary your game uses (NWL, Collins or the WWF list) before playing.
| Letter | P | R | O | T | O | N | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabble | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Words With Friends | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| Wordfeud | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
A PROTON is a stable subatomic particle with a positive electric charge of +1 elementary charge and a mass approximately 1,836 times that of an electron. Found in the nucleus of every atom, protons are fundamental to the structure of matter and define the chemical element to which an atom belongs. The number of protons in an atom's nucleus, called the atomic number, determines whether that atom is hydrogen (1 proton), carbon (6 protons), gold (79 protons), or any other element.
Protons are not elementary particles but are composed of three quarks: two up quarks (each with charge +2/3) and one down quark (with charge -1/3), held together by the strong nuclear force mediated by gluons. This quark structure was discovered through deep inelastic scattering experiments in the 1960s and 1970s, revolutionizing our understanding of subatomic physics. The proton is remarkably stable—its lifetime is at least 10^34 years, far exceeding the age of the universe.
In chemistry and physics, protons play multiple crucial roles. They determine an element's identity and chemical properties, participate in nuclear reactions that power stars, and in aqueous solutions, the concentration of free protons (H+ ions) defines pH and acidity. The proton is also central to many technologies, from MRI machines that manipulate proton spins to particle accelerators that collide protons to explore fundamental physics.
The word proton was coined in 1920 by Ernest Rutherford, derived from the Greek word "πρῶτον" (prōton), the neuter form of "πρῶτος" (prōtos), meaning "first." Rutherford chose this name because he believed the hydrogen nucleus (a single proton) was the first and fundamental building block of all other atomic nuclei—a concept that proved essentially correct.
Anagrams: PRONTO
Hooks: no front hooks; back PROTONS.
Words inside PROTON: 35 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: PRONTOPORNOTROOPPOONPOORPORNPORTTOPOTROPOPTPOOPOT. See all words from PROTON.