Correct option is C
The correct answer is (c) Electron
Explanation:
- An electron is a subatomic particle that carries a negative charge. It orbits the nucleus of an atom and is involved in chemical reactions and electricity.
- The negative charge of an electron is equal in magnitude but opposite in sign to the positive charge of a proton.
- Electrons play a crucial role in the formation of ions and the electrical properties of matter.
Information Booster:
- Electrons are fundamental particles found in atoms, along with protons and neutrons. They have a mass approximately 1/1836th of that of a proton and are essential for the chemical properties of elements.
- The charge of an electron is exactly -1.602 × Coulombs, which is a standard value.
- Electrons are located in electron clouds or orbitals around the nucleus, which contains protons and neutrons.
- Discovered by J.J. Thomson in 1897
- The behavior of electrons is described by quantum mechanics, which governs their movement, interaction with light, and ability to form bonds with other atoms.
Additional Knowledge:
Proton:
- Discovered by Ernest Rutherford in 1917.
- A proton is a positively charged particle found in the nucleus of an atom. Its charge is +1.602 × Coulombs, which is the opposite of the electron's negative charge. Protons, together with neutrons, make up most of the mass of an atom.
Neutron:
- A neutron is a neutral particle, meaning it carries no charge. Discovered by James Chadwick in 1932.
- It is found in the nucleus of an atom and has a mass roughly equal to that of a proton.
- Neutrons play a vital role in stabilizing the nucleus by balancing the repulsive forces between positively charged protons.
Positron:
- A positron is the antimatter counterpart of the electron.
- Theoretical Prediction: Paul Dirac (1928)
- Experimental Discovery: Carl Anderson (1932)
- It carries a positive charge and has the same mass as an electron.
- When a positron encounters an electron, they annihilate each other in a process known as pair annihilation, releasing energy in the form of gamma rays.