Okay, so I understand that the number of protons in an atom defines the element. But why are there only 118 of them? Can’t we keep on adding protons to an atom to create new elements?

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EDIT: Thanks for all the responses!

In: 3337

Answer 1

We can but those elements would be unstable and fall apart almost immediately. Bismuth (83) is the last truly stable element (more precisely, the last element with at least one truly stable isotope). The heavier you go after that, the faster your elements fall apart on their own, i.e. go through nuclear (radioactive) decay.

Edit: actually lead (82) is the last stable element, bismuth just has a really, really long half-life.