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What is the nucleus made of?

The nucleus of an atom is made up of two types of sub-atomic particles: protons and neutrons. These two particles are also known as nucleons, since they exist inside the nucleus. Of these two particles, protons are positively charged particles, while neutrons are negatively charged particles. Electrons are located outside the nucleus. 


The total mass of an atom is roughly equal to the mass of its nucleus, that is, the mass of protons and neutrons that make up the nucleus. Electrons have a much smaller mass in comparison, so they do not substantially contribute to the atom's mass. The total number of nucleons in an atom are also called the mass number, while the atomic number is the total number of protons in an atom. 


Hope this helps. 

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