Where is most of the mass of an atom located?

• A. In the nucleus
• B. In the outermost shell
• C. In the electron cloud
• D. Evenly distributed throughout the atom

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the basic structure of an atom, which consists of a nucleus at the center and electrons surrounding it in various shells or energy levels.
2. Understand that the nucleus contains protons and neutrons, which are much more massive than electrons.
3. Recognize that electrons, although occupying most of the volume of the atom (the electron cloud), have very little mass compared to protons and neutrons.
4. Therefore, most of the atom's mass is concentrated in the nucleus because it contains nearly all the protons and neutrons.
5. Conclude that the correct answer is that most of the mass of an atom is located in the nucleus.