Chemical Basis

Abstract

Atoms consist of a very small central nucleus, comprised of positively charged protons and electroneutral neutrons, occupying approximately 10−¹⁵ of the atomic volume but accounting for essentially all of the atomic mass, and of negatively charged electrons, which surround the nucleus and make up the rest of the atomic volume. Normally, the atom is electrically neutral, the charge of the electrons compensating for that of the protons.