Question

An atom is composed of a nucleus surrounded by electron clouds of varying sizes. The nucleus contains protons and neutrons, while electrons move about the nucleus in the electron clouds. Which of the following statements is also true of atoms?

A. Even though the nucleus of an atom is very large, most of the atom's mass is in the electron clouds.
B. The nucleus of an atom is very small, so most of the atom's mass is in the electron clouds.
C. Even though the nucleus of an atom is very small, it contains most of the atom's mass.
D. The nucleus of an atom is very large, and it contains most of the atom's mass.

Answer 1

The nucleus of an atom is very small and contains most of the atom's mass because protons and neutrons are much denser than electrons that occupy the volume.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the given statements about atomic structure, the correct one is: C. Even though the nucleus of an atom is very small, it contains most of the atom's mass. The nucleus of an atom is very small, so most of the atom's mass is in the electron clouds. The nucleus contains the majority of an atom's mass because protons and neutrons are much heavier than electrons, whereas electrons occupy almost all of an atom's volume.

This is because the nucleus, which is composed of protons and neutrons, is very small but dense, and these particles have significantly more mass than electrons. Electrons, despite occupying nearly all the volume of an atom, have much less mass and thus contribute minimally to the overall mass of the atom.