All matter is made up of atoms, which are composed of subatomic particles including electrons, protons, and neutrons. Atoms are mostly empty space with a dense nucleus at the center containing protons and neutrons. Electrons orbit the nucleus in shells or orbitals. Atoms can form ions by gaining or losing electrons, becoming positively or negatively charged. Multiple atoms can bond together to form molecules or crystalline solids, and compounds are made of different types of atoms chemically bonded together.