What are the extremely small particles that make up everything around us?

Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of matter, making up everything around us, including solids, liquids, and gases. Each atom consists of a nucleus, containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons in orbitals. This structure determines the properties of the matter they compose and allows them to combine in various ways to form molecules and compounds.

While the term "particles" is somewhat vague and can refer to many different kinds of small entities, it does not specify the type of building block as clearly as "atoms" does. "Ions" refer specifically to charged atoms or molecules, which also fall under the broader category of atoms but do not encompass all matter. Radon, being a specific element, is itself made of atoms and does not represent the general concept of what everything is made of.