Mass & Charge Distribution
- The mass of an atom is concentrated in the nucleus, because the nucleus contains the heaviest subatomic particles (the neutrons and protons)
- The mass of the electron is negligible
- The nucleus is also positively charged due to the protons
- Electrons orbit the nucleus of the atom, contributing very little to its overall mass, but creating a ‘cloud’ of negative charge
- The electrostatic attraction between the positive nucleus and negatively charged electrons orbiting around it is what holds an atom together
The mass of the atom is concentrated in the positively charged nucleus which is attracted to the negatively charged electrons orbiting around it