Are atoms matter?

An atom is the smallest unit of matter that retains all of the chemical properties of an element. ... The attraction between the positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons holds the atom together. Most atoms contain all three of these types of subatomic particles—protons, electrons, and neutrons. read more

An atom is the smallest unit of matter that retains all of the chemical properties of an element. For example, a gold coin is simply a very large number of gold atoms molded into the shape of a coin, with small amounts of other, contaminating elements. read more

The tiny units of matter known as atoms are the basic building blocks of chemistry. An atom is the smallest piece of matter that has the characteristic properties of a chemical element, such as hydrogen, oxygen, calcium, iron, gold, and neon. read more

Atoms themselves are made of smaller particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons and neutrons are composed of even smaller particles called quarks. Scientists postulate that there are even smaller particles, but for the purpose of studying cosmology we will focus on the atom. read more