Which of the following is not a fundamental particle

Options

A. Proton
B. Neutron
C. `alpha`-particle
D. Electron

Explanation

To determine which of the following is not a fundamental particle, we first need to understand what fundamental particles are. Fundamental particles are the basic building blocks of matter and cannot be broken down into smaller components. The commonly recognized fundamental particles in the context of atomic structure include:

1. **Protons** - These are positively charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom.
2. **Neutrons** - These are neutral particles also located in the nucleus of an atom.
3. **Electrons** - These are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus.

Now, let's analyze the options given in the question:

- **Proton**: This is a fundamental particle.
- **Neutron**: This is also a fundamental particle.
- **Electron**: This is a fundamental particle as well.
- **Alpha particle**: This is not a fundamental particle. An alpha particle is composed of two protons and two neutrons (essentially a helium nucleus), which means it is derived from other particles.

Based on this analysis, we can conclude that the alpha particle is not a fundamental particle.

**Final Answer**: The option that is not a fundamental particle is **C) Alpha particle**.