Do protons and electrons combine to form the atom's nucleus?

Protons and electrons do not combine to form the atom's nucleus. Instead, the nucleus of an atom is composed of protons and neutrons, which are collectively known as nucleons. Protons are positively charged particles, while neutrons have no charge. Electrons, on the other hand, are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus in various energy levels or shells. The interaction between the positively charged protons and the negatively charged electrons results in an electrostatic attraction that keeps the electrons in orbit around the nucleus, but they do not merge or combine to form the nucleus itself. Thus, stating that protons and electrons combine to form the nucleus is incorrect.