What type of particles does the nucleus of an atom consist of?

The nucleus of an atom is made up of protons and neutrons, which are both types of baryons classified as nucleons. Protons have a positive charge, while neutrons are neutral and do not carry any charge. This combination of particles allows the nucleus to be positively charged overall due to the presence of protons while being stable due to the presence of neutrons, which help to mitigate the electrostatic repulsion between the positively charged protons.

In the context of atomic structure, electrons are found in the electron cloud surrounding the nucleus and do not contribute to the mass or charge of the nucleus itself. Therefore, stating that the nucleus consists solely of electrons, just protons, or only neutrons does not accurately describe its composition. The correct understanding of the nucleus includes both protons and neutrons, which are fundamental to the atom's structure and properties.