Definition of Nucleus



The nucleus was discovered by Rutherford back in 1911. It is a small, compact area present at the center of an atom. The nucleus of an atom is composed of two subatomic particles known as protons and neutrons. As these two components form a nucleus, they are termed as nucleons. The neutrons have zero electric charges whereas the protons carry a positive charge. Hence, the nucleus becomes a positively charged region.

 


Outside the nucleus are present electrons which spin and orbit around the nucleus, while keeping themselves in their respective shells. The electrostatic force keeps the positive and the negative regions of the atom together. Almost 99.9% of the atom’s mass is due to the nucleus and it is stabilized by a nuclear force.

 

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