The configuration described, possessing six protons, six neutrons, and 6 electrons, defines a elementary ingredient. This ingredient is characterised by a selected numerical identifier that designates its place throughout the periodic desk. As an illustration, any atom containing six protons is, by definition, an instance of the ingredient in query.
This identifier is of paramount significance in chemistry and physics. It offers a singular signature for every ingredient, facilitating correct identification and prediction of chemical conduct. The ordered association of components based mostly on this quantity has enabled the event of predictive fashions for chemical reactions and materials properties. Traditionally, the popularity and systematization of this quantity as a defining attribute of components represented a major development in understanding the constructing blocks of matter.