The elemental identity and behavior of a radioactive, synthetic metal are fundamentally determined by the constitution of its atoms. This constitution is defined by the number of positively charged particles within the nucleus, the number of neutral particles also residing in the nucleus, and the number of negatively charged particles orbiting the nucleus.
The quantity of positive nuclear particles dictates the element’s atomic number and its position on the periodic table. Variations in the number of neutral nuclear particles result in different isotopes of the same element, each with distinct nuclear properties. The arrangement of the orbiting negative particles dictates the chemical properties and bonding behavior of the element.