Final Answer:
The nucleus is a tiny, central region within an atom, discovered by Ernest Rutherford.
It is extremely small compared to the overall size of the atom.
Located at the center of an atom, the nucleus houses most of the atom's mass.
Positively charged protons and uncharged neutrons make up the nucleus.
Despite its small size, the nucleus contains the majority of an atom's mass due to its high density.
Step-by-step explanation:
Discovery by Ernest Rutherford:
Ernest Rutherford discovered the nucleus through his gold foil experiment, revealing that atoms have a small, dense core.
Size:
The nucleus is remarkably small compared to the atom's total size. It typically has a diameter on the order of femtometers (1 femtometer = 10^-15 meters).
Location:
Situated at the center of the atom, the nucleus occupies a tiny fraction of the total atomic volume. Electrons orbit the nucleus in electron shells.
Charge:
Protons, which are positively charged particles, and neutrons, which carry no charge, are the constituents of the nucleus. The number of protons determines the atom's overall positive charge.
Density:
Despite its small size, the nucleus is incredibly dense. This high density is due to the concentration of mass within a tiny volume, mainly because protons and neutrons are tightly packed.