Electron

Electron is a subatomic particle that carries a negative electric charge. It is one of the fundamental particles of the universe and plays a key role in the structure of atoms and the universe.

Overview

The electron is a subatomic particle, symbol e− or β−, whose electric charge is negative one elementary charge. Electrons belong to the first generation of the lepton particle family, and are generally thought to be elementary particles because they have no known components or substructure. The electron has a mass that is approximately 1/1836 that of the proton.

Discovery

The concept of the electron came as a result of experiments that showed electricity could be separated into discrete particles. This discovery led to the development of electronics, including radio, television, and computers, and was crucial to the development of quantum physics.

Properties

Electrons are known to have several properties including:

• Charge: The electron has a negative electric charge.
• Spin: Electrons also have a property called spin which helps determine their magnetic properties.
• Mass: The mass of an electron is approximately 9.10938356 × 10−31 kilograms.

Role in Atoms

In an atom, electrons surround the atom's nucleus in energy levels. This electron configuration is the basis of a atom's characteristics. In fact, the identity of an atom is determined by the number of protons and electrons it has.

Role in Electricity

Electrons play a key role in the phenomena of electricity. When electrons move, they carry electrical energy from one place to another. This is known as an electric current.

See Also

• Proton
• Neutron
• Atom
• Electricity
• Quantum Physics

References

Electron Resources
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