Final answer:
An atom has two fundamental parts: the positive charged nucleus containing protons and neutrons at its center, and the electron cloud with negatively charged electrons orbiting the nucleus.
Step-by-step explanation:
An atom is composed of two main parts: the nucleus and the electron cloud. The nucleus, situated at the center of the atom, contains protons with a positive electric charge and neutrons with no charge, thus giving the nucleus an overall positive charge. Surrounding the nucleus is the electron cloud, which consists of electrons with a negative electric charge moving in orbits around the nucleus. Despite being called a 'cloud,' most of an atom's volume is actually empty space through which these electrons whiz around.
The subatomic particles that make up an atom include protons, neutrons, and electrons. The atomic nucleus comprises densely packed protons and neutrons. Electrons are much smaller than protons or neutrons and orbit the nucleus in regions called electron shells. They have a negative charge and are responsible for the chemical properties of an atom.