Question

Who is the discoverer of protons?
[A] J.J Thomson
[B] James Chadwick
[C] Ernest Rutherford
[D] None of these

Answer 1

Hint: A proton is a subatomic particle. It was discovered in 1920. The discoverer of proton was also known as the father of nuclear physics. He also discovered the concept of radioactive half-life.

Complete step by step answer:
We know that an atom consists of a nucleus which has three major subatomic particles. Proton is one of those subatomic particles.
Protons are a subatomic particle with a positive charge of +1 elementary charge. Its mass is slightly lower than a neutron.
In the nucleus of an atom, protons and neutrons are present and are together called nucleons.
From the number of protons in a nucleus we define a property of an element called the atomic number and it is represented by ‘Z’. Each number has a unique number of protons and thus has its own atomic number.
Ernest Rutherford discovered that hydrogen nuclei can be extracted from the nuclei of nitrogen through atomic collision and thus protons were considered as a fundamental particle or the building block of all atomic nuclei.
The name proton was first given to the nucleus of hydrogen by Ernest Rutherford in 1920.
So, the correct answer is “Option C”.

Note: Along with proton there are other subatomic particles in an atom. The proton is in the nucleus and so is the neutron (which is another subatomic particle). Then there are electrons revolving around the nucleus.
Protons have positive charge as we have discussed above. Neutrons are neutral i.e. it possesses no charge and electrons are negatively charged. The number of protons is equal to the number of neutrons. When electrons are excess than protons the molecule/atom possesses a negative charge and when electrons are deficient it gets a positive charge due to excess protons.