Tiny particle

As a detective trying to solve the mystery of the crossword clue ‘Tiny particle’, my mind began to race with numerous possibilities. I thought of atoms, protons, electrons, and neutrons among others, but none of them seemed to fit the bill. At this point, I realized I had to focus on the context of the puzzle, the type of clue and the number of letters given. With the word ‘particle’ being used, it indicated that the answer was something in the field of physics or chemistry. Also, the clue ‘Tiny’ suggested that it was something really small. With only three letters to work with, I started to think of some of the smallest particles in the universe like quarks and leptons. However, these potential answers were too complex for such a simple clue. In an instant, it hit me – ION. It was a small, charged particle that would fit the description perfectly. Its simplicity meant that it was easily overlooked, but the context of the puzzle and the handful of letters given, all led to the right answer.