Final answer:
The correct order of atomic particles from smallest to largest is electron, proton, nucleus, atom. Electrons are the smallest followed by protons, which along with neutrons make up the nucleus, and atoms are composed of a nucleus and an electron cloud around it.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asked which of the following choices lists atomic particles ordered from smallest to largest in size. The correct order from smallest to largest is electron, proton, nucleus, atom. Electrons are subatomic particles with a very small mass, estimated to be about 1/2000th that of protons or neutrons. Protons are much larger than electrons and have a positive charge, residing in the nucleus of an atom. Neutrons also reside in the nucleus and have a mass roughly equal to that of protons but do not carry any charge. The nucleus, which contains both protons and neutrons, is smaller than the atom itself, which includes the nucleus and the electrons' orbit around it.
1. An atom is the smallest constituent unit of ordinary matter that has the properties of a chemical element. Every solid, liquid, gas, and plasma is composed of neutral or ionized atoms. 2. The nucleus is the central core of the atom and contains the majority of its mass. 3. Electrons are found in defined spaces around the atom's nucleus. 4. Protons, found in the nucleus, have a positive charge and contribute to most of the atom's mass.