Electrons are Sub Atomic Particles

What Is An Electron?

Electrons have a much smaller mass than protons and neutrons in the nucleus, but they have a positive charge due to their potential to give up an electron when it has a positive charge. It’s this property that allows atoms to become electrically charged and form chemical bonds. Electrons spend most of their time in the first or “ground” energy level. The second energy level is higher and the third energy level is even higher. The lowest energy level is the most stable because each electron is as far away from the nucleus as it can be while remaining in the atom. Electrons also come in different types, or “spin.” The spin of an electron can either be “up” or “down,” and it’s a quantum property that is the basis for quantum computers.

Where Are Electrons Found?

Electrons are the subatomic particles that make up the outermost “shell” of an atom. One of the most common elements on Earth is Hydrogen, and it has one electron in its outermost shell. The most common element on Earth (oxygen) is eight electrons away from Hydrogen, making it an eight-atom shell. Electrons are found in the shells of the elements. In the simplest atom (Hydrogen), there is only one electron. In the most complex atom (Uranium), there are 92 electrons. Electrons can be removed from their atom or added to other atoms. For example, when Hydrogen and Oxygen combine to form water, Hydrogen loses an electron to Oxygen, making the oxygen atoms 8 electrons away from Hydrogen. Electrons can be moved by a voltage source, like when you use a battery to power a device.

Properties of an Electron.

- Electron shells: Electrons are organized into shells that take up single, multiple, or even no number of electrons depending on the shell. The shells are the innermost, second, and third energy levels. The first energy level does not hold electrons.

- Electron spin: Electrons can have either a “down” or “up” spin, and it’s a quantum property that is the basis for quantum computers. This spin makes electrons different from other subatomic particles. Electrons with different spins can occupy the same space, but they repel each other. This repulsion can cause electrons to jump from one atom to another, causing a chemical reaction. Electrons with the same spin repel each other less. This is why you can have two magnets very close together without them repelling each other and pushing away.

How Are Electrons Classified?

Since electrons are the subatomic particles that make up the outermost “shell” of an atom, they are classified as elements. Not all elements will have an electron in the first energy level. But all elements that have electrons in the first energy level will have two in the second energy level, and two in the third energy level. Electrons are classified by the first energy level they are found in. The first energy level is closest to the nucleus and has only two electrons. The second energy level has eight electrons, and the third energy level has two electrons. The electrons in the first energy level are the “noble” or “inert” gases because they are not easily excited. They are the noble gases Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, and Xenon.

How Do Electrons Behave?

Electrons like to be as far away from the nucleus as possible. This is why electrons are in the first energy level (the closest to the nucleus). Electrons can jump from one atom to another. But they are not on a fixed path from atom to atom. It’s more like they are on a bouncy castle with a lot of spring action. Electrons in atoms can jump from atom to atom, but they don’t go in a straight line. Instead, they jump in the path of least resistance. Electrons can jump to the closest atom, or even jump backward. If pressure is applied, the electrons have less resistance because there is a better path for them to take. This is why a negatively charged object will attract positively charged objects. The electrons in the negatively charged object have a path of less resistance to the positively charged object and will jump from the negatively charged object to the positively charged object.

Summary Electrons are subatomic particles with a negative charge.

They are found in atoms, which means electrons can’t exist on their own. Instead, they must pair up as a double-negative particle to be stable and not react with other atoms. Electrons have a much smaller mass than protons and neutrons in the nucleus, but they have a positive charge due to their potential to give up an electron when they have a positive charge. This property allows atoms to become electrically charged and form chemical bonds. Electrons spend most of their time in the first or “ground” energy level. The second energy level is higher and the third energy level is even higher. The lowest energy level is the most stable because each electron is as far away from the nucleus as it can be while remaining in the atom. Electrons also come in different types, or “spin.” The spin of an electron can either be “up” or “down,” and it’s a quantum property that is the basis for quantum computers.