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Which of the following statements about an atom is FALSE?

(A) Protons are located in the nucleus
(B) Electrons are located outside the nucleus
(C) An electron has a much smaller mass than a proton or a neutron
(D) An electron has a negative charge
(E) Most of the volume of an atom is filled by the nucleus

1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

The statement that is FALSE about an atom is (option E) Most of the volume of an atom is filled by the nucleus.

Step-by-step explanation:

Atomic theory describes the nucleus as being very small and very dense, containing the majority of the atom's mass due to the presence of protons and neutrons.

Despite its massive contribution to the atom's weight, the nucleus occupies only a tiny fraction of the atom's volume.

On the other hand, electrons, which are found in a diffuse cloud around the nucleus, hold almost no mass compared to protons and neutrons but occupy most of the volume of the atom.

The correct depiction of an atom shows that it has a large volume of space, mainly filled by the electron cloud. By definition, the electron cloud is the area around the nucleus of an atom where electrons are most likely to be found, with a positively charged and dense nucleus at the center, which is much smaller in comparison to the overall size of the atom.

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