An electron is a fundamental subatomic particle that is a key building block of matter. It plays a crucial role in many physical and chemical processes.
Basic Characteristics of the Electron:
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Symbol: e⁻
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Charge: Negative, equal to −1 elementary charge (−1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ coulombs)
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Mass: Approximately 9.109 × 10⁻³¹ kilograms (about 1/1836 the mass of a proton)
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Spin: 1/2 (it is a fermion)
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Particle type: Lepton (an elementary particle with no known internal structure)
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Antiparticle: Positron (electron with a positive charge)
History of Discovery
The electron was discovered in 1897 by the British physicist J.J. Thomson during experiments with cathode rays. This discovery revealed that the atom is not indivisible but contains smaller charged particles.
Role of the Electron in the Atom
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Electrons orbit the nucleus of an atom in specific energy levels (orbitals).
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Electrons determine the chemical properties of elements and their ability to form chemical bonds.
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Electron shells are involved in forming different types of chemical bonds: covalent, ionic, metallic.
Wave Properties and Quantum Mechanics
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Electrons have a dual nature — they behave both as particles and waves (wave-particle duality).
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According to quantum mechanics, the exact position of an electron cannot be determined; instead, there is a probability distribution describing where it might be found.
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Its behavior is described by a wave function, which is a solution to the Schrödinger equation.
Electron in Physics and Technology
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Electrons are responsible for electric current in conductors.
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Used in electronic devices such as vacuum tubes, transistors, and diodes.
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Electron beams are used in televisions, electron microscopes, and particle accelerators.
Interesting Facts
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The electron is the lightest charged elementary particle.
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In the Standard Model of particle physics, the electron is a fundamental lepton with no internal structure.
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Electrons play a key role in forming all visible matter in the Universe.