the total number of known subatomic particles is approximately 250. However, it's important to note that this number may have changed since then due to ongoing scientific research and discoveries. Subatomic particles can be classified into several categories, including elementary particles (such as quarks, leptons, and gauge bosons) and composite particles (such as protons and neutrons, which are made up of quarks). New particles and their properties continue to be explored through experiments conducted at particle accelerators and other scientific investigations.