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Because the masses of nucleons are so small and the forces which hold the nucleus are so strong, the full relativistic understanding of mass given by Einstein's E=mc^2 must be used in considering these systems.

Thus, the mass of the nucleus considered as a single particle must be equal to the energy of the nucleus if it were at rest. This includes the rest energy, or mass energy, of all of the nucleons from which the nucleus is made as well as the potential energy of each nucleon due to the nuclear strong force which binds it to the others to form the nucleus. Because this force is attractive the overall potential energy is negative (this is actually the simplest way to define being bound together), and thus the mass of the nucleus is less than the sum of the masses of the nucleons from which it is assembled.

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Why are valence electrons easier to remove from an atom than core electrons?

Valence electrons are further away from the nucleus and experience less attraction to the positively charged protons in the nucleus compared to core electrons. This makes valence electrons easier to remove from an atom. Core electrons are located closer to the nucleus and are more strongly attracted to the nucleus, requiring more energy to remove them from the atom.


What of an atom is negatively charged?

The number of protons is less than the number of electrons in an atom.


What is the charge of just the nucleus of an atom?

The nucleus of an atom carries a positive charge. The negatively charged electrons orbiting the nucleus more or less balances out the positive charge.


Electrons farther from the nucleus are said to be of?

Electrons farther from the nucleus are said to be of higher energy levels or higher orbitals. This means they have more energy and are less tightly bound to the nucleus compared to electrons closer to the nucleus.


Where are the electrons in an atom?

Electrons are located in the electron cloud - the outermost portion of the atom. The electron cloud accounts for about 99% of the space taken up by the atom, yet less than 1% of the mass. A good way of thinking about this is in terms of a football field. Imagine the nucleus of the atom was the size of a blueberry. Place the blueberry in the middle of a football field, and that is the size of the electron cloud in comparison to the nucleus. As you see, the atom is mostly empty space with electrons floating around within. Within the electron cloud, electrons are organized into levels, sublevels, orbitals, and spins. Outermost electrons bond with other atoms. The placement of electrons within an electron cloud determines the stability and chemical properties of an element.


Where can the most mass be found in an atom?

Essentially all of the atom's mass is in the nucleus. In the lightest atom, that of hydrogen, it's about 99.95 percent. In the heaviest naturally occurring atom, that of Uranium238, it's about 99.979 percent.


Are electrons in an atom related to protons?

Yes, electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles that are attracted to the positively charged protons in the nucleus of an atom. They are crucial for determining the chemical behavior of an element and are arranged in specific energy levels around the nucleus.


Where is the mass of an atom centered?

The mass of an atom is primarily centered in the nucleus, which is composed of protons and neutrons. Electrons, which have much less mass than protons and neutrons, orbit around the nucleus in an electron cloud.


According to modern atomic theory where is most of the mass of an atom located?

Most of the mass of an atom is located in the nucleus, which is made up of protons and neutrons. The nucleus is located at the center of the atom. Electrons, which have much less mass compared to protons and neutrons, orbit around the nucleus in electron clouds.


Where is most of the mass of an atom concentrated?

in the nucleus of the atom


An atom has no mass?

An atom does have mass. The mass of an atom is primarily concentrated in its nucleus, which is made up of protons and neutrons. Electrons, which orbit the nucleus, have much less mass compared to protons and neutrons.


An electron is much larger than an atom?

This statement is not correct. An atom is made up of a nucleus (containing protons and neutrons) surrounded by electrons. Electrons are subatomic particles that are much smaller and have much less mass than the nucleus of an atom.