What is the role of protons in an atom?

The role of protons in an atom is fundamentally tied to the identity of the element. Each element on the periodic table is defined by its number of protons, known as the atomic number. For instance, hydrogen has one proton, while carbon has six. This atomic number determines not only the nature of the element but also its chemical properties.

The presence of protons in the nucleus positively charges the atom, contributing to the overall stability of the nucleus along with neutrons, but this stability role does not define the element itself. While protons do help balance the negative charge of electrons to maintain electrical neutrality, that balancing act does not influence which element an atom is. The idea of creating neutron pairs is not associated with the function of protons in defining the atom's identity either. Thus, it is clear that the defining characteristic of an element arises from the number of protons in its nucleus.