No atoms are destroyed or created. The bottom line is: Matter cycles through the universe in many different forms. In any physical or chemical change, matter doesn't appear or disappear. Atoms created in the stars (a very, very long time ago) make up every living and nonliving thing on Earth—even you.

Can you completely destroy an atom?

Atoms cannot be created nor destroyed, and they are indestructible; they cannot be broken into smaller parts. ... All atoms of an element are identical, in both mass and properties. Atoms of different elements have different mass and properties.

When can atoms be destroyed?

Atoms cannot be created or destroyed. Atoms of different elements may combine with each other in a fixed, simple, whole number ratios to form compound atoms. Atoms of same element can combine in more than one ratio to form two or more compounds.