Electrons
Definition
Electrons are subatomic particles with a negative electric charge. They orbit around the nucleus of an atom in specific energy levels or shells.
Analogy
Imagine electrons as planets revolving around a sun (the nucleus). Just like planets have specific orbits around the sun, electrons move in specific energy levels around the nucleus.
Related terms
Orbitals: Regions around the nucleus where electrons are most likely to be found.
Valence Electrons: The electrons present in the outermost shell of an atom that participate in chemical reactions.
Ionization Energy: The amount of energy required to remove an electron from its orbital.
"Electrons" appears in:
Subjects (3)
Study guides (4)
Practice Questions (6)
Why does an increase in oxidation number represent a loss of electrons?
Which side are the electrons on for an oxidation equation?
How many moles of electrons are transferred when 2mol of Mg reacts with 2mol Br₂ to produce 2mol MgBr₂?
How many electrons can fit into which subshells?
How many electrons would the right-most peak of a PES graph of chlorine have?
A certain atom tends to lose two electrons in order to reach a stable configuration. What group will this atom tend to bond with in a 1:2 ratio?
Are you a college student?
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.