An atom consists of two main parts: the nucleus and the electron cloud.
1. Nucleus: The nucleus is the central part of an atom. It contains protons and neutrons. Protons are positively charged particles, while neutrons have no charge. The nucleus is very dense and makes up most of the atom’s mass.
2. Electron Cloud: Surrounding the nucleus is the electron cloud, which is made up of electrons. Electrons are negatively charged particles that move around the nucleus in regions called orbitals. The electron cloud is much larger than the nucleus but contributes very little to the atom’s mass.
Together, these two parts form the basic structure of an atom, with the nucleus at the center and the electron cloud surrounding it.