An atom is the fundamental unit of matter and the smallest constituent of a chemical element that retains all the chemical properties of that element.

It represents the building block of all physical substances in the universe, from the simplest gases to the most complex biological organisms, and its structure dictates how elements interact, bond, and react with one another.

The nucleus is the dense, central core of the atom, containing nearly all of its mass despite occupying an extremely small fraction of its volume. This positively charged region acts as the anchor for the atom’s structure and is composed of protons and neutrons, which are bound together by the strong nuclear force.

A proton is a positively charged subatomic particle residing within the atomic nucleus. The number of protons, known as the atomic number, uniquely defines a chemical element and determines its identity and position in the periodic table, as it also dictates the number of electrons in a neutral atom.

A neutron is a subatomic particle located in the atomic nucleus that carries no net electric charge; it is electrically neutral. Neutrons contribute to the mass of the atom and play a crucial role in stabilizing the nucleus, as their presence helps to counteract the electrostatic repulsion between the positively charged protons.

An electron is a negatively charged subatomic particle that occupies the vast, diffuse region of space surrounding the nucleus known as the electron cloud.

With a mass approximately 1/1836th that of a proton, electrons are arranged in specific energy levels or shells and their interactions and movements are responsible for the formation of chemical bonds and the vast majority of an atom’s observable properties.

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