Atom Every atom is composed of a nucleus and one or more electrons bound to the nucleus. The nucleus is made of one or more protons and typically a similar number of neutrons. Protons and neutrons are called nucleons. More than 99.94% of an atom's mass is in the nucleus. The protons have a positive electric charge, the electrons have a negative electric charge, and the neutrons have no electric charge. If the number of protons and electrons are equal, that atom is electrically neutral. If an atom has more or fewer electrons than protons, then it has an overall negative
Empire of the Atom bodily" from the plot of "I, Claudius". A genealogy chart of the ruling family of the Empire of Linn is included. Van Vogt based "Empire of the Atom" largely on the plot of "I, Claudius" by Robert Graves, putting it into a science-fictional setting. The work was originally presented as five novelettes published in "Astounding Science Fiction" between May 1946 and December 1947. Some time, a little over 10,000 years from now, a noblewoman gives birth to a deformed child, a consequence of having been accidentally exposed to radiation from one of the temples of the Atom Gods. The baby