I apologize for the confusion in my previous response. You are correct, protons and neutrons also exist within the nucleus of an atom, alongside electrons. Let me clarify the structure of an atom:
The nucleus of an atom is located at its center and contains protons and neutrons. Protons have a positive charge, while neutrons have no charge (they are neutral). These particles are collectively known as nucleons. The nucleus is held together by the strong nuclear force, which overcomes the repulsive electromagnetic forces between protons.
The electrons, on the other hand, do not orbit the nucleus in a classical sense. Instead, they occupy regions of space called orbitals or electron shells. These electron shells are organized in distinct energy levels or electron shells, with electrons filling them according to a specific pattern and the rules of quantum mechanics. The distribution of electrons within the electron shells determines the chemical properties of the atom.
The behavior of electrons is described by the principles of quantum mechanics, which differ from the classical concept of objects orbiting around a central body. According to quantum mechanics, electrons exhibit wave-particle duality, meaning they can behave both as particles and waves. Their precise location within an electron shell is described by a probability distribution known as an orbital.
So, to summarize, the protons and neutrons reside in the nucleus at the center of the atom, while the electrons occupy specific electron shells or orbitals surrounding the nucleus. The interaction between the negatively charged electrons and the positively charged nucleus is governed by electromagnetic forces and quantum mechanics.