What are the small particles of energy contained in light called?

Light is composed of small packets of energy known as photons. These particles are fundamental to the field of quantum mechanics and are responsible for carrying electromagnetic radiation, which includes not only visible light but also radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, ultraviolet light, X-rays, and gamma rays. When light interacts with matter, it can transfer energy, which is a key aspect of many phenomena, such as photosynthesis and vision.

In contrast, electrons and neutrons are subatomic particles that form atoms. Electrons carry a negative charge, while neutrons are neutral and contribute to the mass of an atom. Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter and consist of protons, neutrons, and electrons, but they do not represent the particles of energy found in light. Thus, while electrons, neutrons, and atoms are important components in physics and chemistry, they do not define the energy packets of light that photons do.