What is an electron?

Answer

An electron is an elementary particle, and it is the carrier of the negative electrostatic charge. It can be thought of as a building block, along with the protons and neutrons that comprise an atomic nucleus, of an atom. An electron has a mass that is 1/1836th that of a proton, and each one carries a charge of 1.6 x 10^-19 coulombs. The Coulomb force is the basis for the ability of a positively charged nucleus to "hold onto" electrons and get them to form the electron cloud that generally defines the volume of the atom.

When electrons form up around atoms, they assume what are called orbitals, which are actually Fermi energy levels. Remember that the electrons are all identical, all carrying a negative charge, and don't like each other (they repel). The electrons take up station a considerable distance from an atomic nucleus, and though the positive charge of the nucleus holds them in orbit, the electrons have to "reach an understanding" with each other out in that electron cloud to avoid each other and stay out of each other's way. This is the fundamental underpinning of electron structure in an atom and the science of chemistry, which speaks to how atoms behave around each other.

As an aside, but a related one, the behavior of an electron about the nucleus of an atom was found to be describable by a mathematical model called a wave function. The electron can be considered a wave in a number of instances where it is under observation. Electrons exhibit what is called wave-particle duality, which is a quantum mechanical phenomenon that had been observed in the behavior of light. Yes, the electron is an amazing little critter. But there is another area where we interact with in on a daily basis and get up close and personal (the chemistry of our bodies aside). It is electricity, the movement of charges, and almost always for most of us, the movement of electrons that we so often "connect with" every day.

It is fairly easy to make electrons in conductive materials move along the conductor. Note that electron current flow is not the entry into a conductor of an electron and the exiting of that electron from the other end. Rather, it is the entry of an electron into one end of a conductor and then the "appearance" of an electron from the other end of the conductor. This is governed by the electromagnetic force, one of the four fundamental forces in the universe, and something we apply every day. When an electron (or any other charged particle) moves, a little "magnetic tunnel" is formed around the path of travel of that charged particle. Conversely, if we move a charged particle in a relative way in the presence of a magnetic field, the force of the magnetic field will act on the charged particle to deflect it. We generate huge quantities of electric power 'round the clock and 'round the world applying this principle.

There is more to learn about the electron, and particularly how the electrons around atoms cause that atom to behave around other atoms like it and other atoms different from it. The little world of the electron is played out on a very broad stage, and the investigator who is interested is just beginning to learn what there is to know about the electron and its associates.

Certainly the physics aspects include the analog of the electron, the positron, which is antimatter, an anti-electron. And when electrons change energy levels in an atom, they do so by absorbing a quantum of light (to move "out") or releasing a quantum of light (to move "in") when shifting orbitals. The doorway to electromagnetics is now open. You'll need more information, and below you'll find links to related questions and to related articles on the web. Best of luck in your continued investigations.

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First answer by JEK. Last edit by Quirkyquantummechanic. Contributor trust: 2667 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 29 [recommend question].