Structure of the Atom
- All matter is composed of atoms, which are the smallest parts of an element that can take place in chemical reactions
- Atoms are mostly made up of empty space around a very small, dense nucleus that contains protons and neutrons
- The nucleus has an overall positive charge
- The protons have a positive charge and the neutrons have a neutral charge
- Negatively charged electrons are found in orbitals in the empty space around the nucleus
The basic structure of an atom (not to scale)