Which subatomic particles can atoms be broken down into?

Atoms are composed of three fundamental subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons and neutrons reside in the nucleus of the atom, while electrons orbit around the nucleus.

Protons carry a positive charge and define the atomic number of the element, while neutrons are neutral and contribute to the mass of the atom. Electrons are negatively charged and are crucial for chemical bonding and reactions.

Although protons and neutrons can be further broken down into quarks, which are considered the more fundamental units of matter in the Standard Model of particle physics, quarks themselves are not standard components that define atomic structure in the conventional sense. Thus, when referring to the particles that make up an atom in the context of conventional chemistry, protons, neutrons, and electrons are the primary subatomic particles of interest.

This illustrates while options may mention particles relevant to advanced physics or nuclear processes, they do not directly represent the basic structure of an atom as understood in general chemistry.