原子核

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 原子核 is read as げんしかく and is a noun for the atomic nucleus at the center of an atom, generally composed of protons and neutrons.
• Basic usage: Its composition appears in 多くの原子核は陽子と中性子からできている, while indicating its location appears in 原子核の位置.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Central part of an atom
  • It denotes the small central part rather than the entire atom and is often shown at the center of a diagram.
• Difference from 原子
  • 原子 is the whole atom, including the nucleus and surrounding electrons, while 原子核 denotes only its central part.