atom: Structure of the Atom

The atom consists of a central, positively charged core, the nucleus, and negatively charged particles called electrons that are found in orbits around the nucleus.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Contemporary Studies of the Atom
• Discovery of the Atom's Structure
• From Dalton to the Periodic Table
• Early Atomic Theory
• Atomic Weight and Number
• The Electrons
• The Nucleus
• Structure of the Atom
• Bibliography

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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