Valence quarks

Valence quarks are the fundamental particles that determine a proton's or neutron's identity and overall properties. In simple terms, they are the main building blocks that make up these particles, much like bricks form a wall. A proton contains two "up" valence quarks and one "down" valence quark, while a neutron has two "down" quarks and one "up" quark. These valence quarks account for most of the particle's mass and charge, and their interactions with other particles, like gluons, also influence the particle's behavior.