nuclear model of the atom

The nuclear model of the atom describes it as composed of a tiny, dense core called the nucleus, containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by a cloud of electrons. Protons carry a positive charge, neutrons have no charge, and electrons are negatively charged. The nucleus accounts for almost all the atom's mass, while electrons occupy regions around it, determining the atom's chemical behavior. This model helps explain atomic stability, isotopes, and how atoms interact through chemical bonds and nuclear reactions.