The smallest unit of an element, consisting of at least one proton and (for all elements except hydrogen) one or more neutrons in a dense central nucleus, surrounded by one or more shells of electrons. In electrically neutral atoms, the number of protons equals the number of electrons.
By the time the Vesuvius eruption sputtered to an end the next day, Pompeii was buried under millions of tons of volcanic ash. About 2,000 people were dead. Some people drifted back to town in search of lost relatives or belongings, but there was not much left to find.
Pompeii & Paestum. In July 1999, JK visited Pompeii & Peastum in order to view the roads and other paved areas. Much of our understanding of Roman city streets is derived from Pompeii. In AD79, Vesuvius erupted and covered Pompeii with volcanic ash to a depth of about 10m. Just when it looked as though things couldn't get any worse, Vesuvius exploded and sent a 100mph avalanche of rock and hot gases (now called pyroclastic flow) hurtling towards Pompeii and other nearby towns.