Since nucleons are not elementary particles more, how we call nucleons and electrons together now?

Question

In the time before the discovery of quarks the nucleon particle proton and neutron together with electrons were called elementary particles.

It's a little bit boring to have only the possibility to describe protons, neutrons and electrons together as nucleons and electrons. Which description one can use for all three particles together?

I don't understand your question - why should you call them anything else than "nucleons and electrons"? — ACuriousMind, Apr 30 '15 at 20:31
If you're looking for a single term that includes all of them, "subatomic particle" might be a good choice. — Asher, May 01 '15 at 04:14
@Asher: I would not expect these emotions. It's just a question about naming conventions. Your comment is the most logical name and if you don't mind please post it as an answer. — HolgerFiedler, May 01 '15 at 05:42

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered May 01 '15 at 06:59

I know of no collective noun that includes only the electron, proton and neutron and excludes all other particles. Possibly you could use stable subatomic particles, but the neutron is only stable when it's in a nucleus so that doesn't really work (and I suppose it should include photons and neutrinos).

As ACuriousMind suggests in a comment, nucleons and electrons is the most concise term I can think of.

Jimmy360 · Answer 2 · 2015-05-01T04:34:21.267

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We can describe them as quark combinations. A neutron is a u-d-d and a proton is a u-u-d. Also, by charge, we have +1, -1, 0.

edited May 01 '15 at 04:34

answered May 01 '15 at 04:03

Jimmy360

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You left out what an electron is. – LDC3 May 01 '15 at 04:32
@LDC3 just a fundamental particle – Jimmy360 May 01 '15 at 04:33

Since nucleons are not elementary particles more, how we call nucleons and electrons together now?

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