What is the center of an atom called?

The center of an atom is called the nucleus. The nucleus is a dense region that contains the majority of the atom's mass and is composed of protons and neutrons. Protons have a positive charge, while neutrons are neutral, meaning they have no charge. The nucleus is crucial because it holds the protons and neutrons together, and it determines the element's identity based on the number of protons present. The surrounding area, known as the electron cloud, contains electrons, which are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus. Understanding the role of the nucleus helps in grasping basic atomic structure and is foundational for further studies in chemistry and physics.