Which statement is true about atomic nuclei?

• A. Electrons are located in the nucleus
• B. Protons and neutrons are located in the nucleus
• C. Photons are located in the nucleus
• D. Quarks are located in the nucleus

Answer: (B)

The nucleus is the tiny center of an atom that contains protons and neutrons. The surrounding space is where electrons reside in orbitals or an electron cloud. Photons are particles of light and aren’t housed in the nucleus. Quarks are the fundamental building blocks inside protons and neutrons, which themselves are inside the nucleus, but the direct, simplest description of what the nucleus itself contains is protons and neutrons. Therefore, the statement that protons and neutrons are located in the nucleus is the correct one.