Explainer: What Is an Electron? What are its Characteristics?

BY Team Aakash Byju's

The atom is the basic and smallest unit of matter.

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Parts of Atom: Each atom has three types of subatomic particles. These include electrons, protons and neutrons.

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Electron

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A common symbol for an electron is e-

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The negative charge of electrons balances the positive charge of protons.

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Electrons revolve around the nucleus at different energy levels.

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These electrons reach higher energy levels by absorbing energy.

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The mass of an electron is 1/1,836 of proton mass.

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