Iiprotons zizinto ezithile ezifumaneka kw-atom. Zifumaneka kwi-nucleus ye-atom zihamba nee-neutrons. I-periodic table yamaqela ee-atoms ebonakalisa okokuba ezi atoms zinee-protons ezingaphi na. I-atom enye kwi-hydrogen (olona hlobo lwe-atom lwakhe lwalula) yenziwe nge-electron ezingqonge nezijikeleze i-proton. Ubukhulu becala ubunzima bale atom benziwa bukwi-proton, kuba kaloku yona ubunzima bayo phantse buphinda-phindwe kangangama-2000 kunobo be-electron. Ii-Protons nee-neutrons zizo ezenza i-nucleus yalo naluphi na uhlobo lwe-atom. Kuyo nayiphi na i-element, inani lee- protons lisoloko lifana. Inani eli-atomic kwi-atom lilingana nenani lee-protons kuloo-atom.