Identify whether the following statement is true or false. Atoms are the smallest particles of matter.TrueFalse

The statement "Atoms are the smallest particles of matter" is false. Atoms are indeed fundamental building blocks of matter, but they are not the smallest particles. Atoms consist of smaller subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Moreover, there are even smaller particles known as quarks and leptons which combine to form protons and neutrons.

To elaborate, protons and neutrons are found in the nucleus of an atom, while electrons orbit around the nucleus. The discovery of subatomic particles has shifted our understanding of the structure of matter, indicating that matter can be broken down even further. Therefore, while atoms are significant and represent a basic unit of chemical elements, they are not the smallest particles, making the statement false.