Identify what most of an atom's volume is made up of.  Its nucleusEmpty spaceElectronsProtons

Break Down the Problem

1. Identify the components of an atom and their organization.
2. Analyze the structure of the atom, particularly the nucleus and electron cloud.

Relevant Concepts

• Atoms are made up of a nucleus (containing protons and neutrons) and an electron cloud surrounding the nucleus.
• The majority of the atom's volume is not occupied by matter in the traditional sense, but rather by the empty space where electrons are likely to be found.

Analysis and Detail

1. Nucleus: The nucleus contains protons and neutrons, which are held together by strong nuclear forces. It accounts for a very small size compared to the overall size of the atom.
2. Electron Cloud: The area around the nucleus where electrons are located is largely considered to be empty space. Although electrons have mass, they occupy this region in a probabilistic manner.

Verify and Summarize

Thus, while the nucleus contains nearly all of an atom's mass, its volume is minuscule in comparison to the electron cloud. The vast majority of an atom's volume consists of empty space.

Final Answer

Most of an atom's volume is made up of empty space.