D. protons
AND NEUTRONS
The atoms in a compound are held together by a chemical bond. The chemical bonds can be either covalent bonds or ionic bonds. Both the bonds are considered very strong bonds. These bonds are mainly formed by sharing of electrons or in the case when one of the elements making the compound donates electron to the other element. The nucleus of each atom attracts to form a strong bond. This property of attraction between the nucleus of the atoms actually helps in forming the chemical bonds.
