What are some characteristic differences between a Pion and a Gluon?

Question

As far as my limited knowledge is aware, I know that Pion's mediate the interactions between quarks and gluons, and help bring them together, while Gluons are what hold such particles together (as in a "glue"). So what, besides mathematical descriptions, seperates a pion from a gluon? And if very little does, why is their a need for the two instead of just one?

Answer 1

Pions are actually Leptons (which can be exchange particles in electromagnetic interactions), whilst Gluons are exchange particles (for Strong interactions)

Exchange particles can have different charges, whilst leptons are -ve charged. Gluons are not the only exchange particles and have no charge. There are types of interactions and exchange particles, for example, weak interactions exchange z+, z- or z0 particles. Gravitational interactions use gravitons as exchange particles.

The need for both (pions and gluons) is because they are physically fundamental particles and are very different, having roles in different interaction. And another thing, they have different charges.
(Please double check all of this, I did it YEARS ago in Alevel Physics)

You should also know that pions are from the same family as electrons and muons.