Can Black Holes Really Rip Apart Atoms and Light?

[Meatbot]

If a black hole will always rip you apart through tidal effects as you approach it, what are the limits on what can be ripped apart? Will it rip apart atoms, protons, quarks? What do the tidal forces do to light? Does it "rip" light apart?

 

[mathman]

At the level of atoms and smaller, where quantum mechanics is in play, the physics theory breaks down, i.e. general relativity and quantum theory give nonsense when used together.