Thus, within the dimensions of an atomic sphere, the strong force prevails, holding the nucleus together. If the nucleus becomes physically deformed, the coulomb force might prevail, causing the nucleus to disintegrate. There are the same number of electrons surrounding the nucleus as there are protons within the nucleus. These are the electrons which are involved in chemical reactions. The number of electrons in the outer valence band varies depending upon the number of protons in the nucleus.
Periodic tables identify the number of valence electrons that each element has.
Neutrons and protons are rougly equivalent in size and weight whereas the electron is so small as to be almost indistinguishable from pure energy with virtually no discernible mass. Typically, the atoms of metallic elements group themselves in sort of a crystalline lattice network whereby each atom shares electrons with other atoms of the same element. This is a relatively stable arrangement where the various nuclei are held in position by the forces of their neighboring nuclei. All metals share this charateristic but with a variety of crystalline configurations. Now, we will move into new territory.