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What do electrons do?

Updated: 8/10/2023
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6y ago

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Jedediah Rutherford

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2y ago
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14y ago

An electron is negative in the atom. It helps provide stability for the protons. Also, electrons govern the chemical properties of the atom. Any change (through gain or loss of electrons) can drastically alter the chemical as well as physical properties of the atom.

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13y ago

An electron is a subatomic particle in the atom. Sub (part), Atomic (of the atom).

It has a negative charge and has 1800 times less mass than the proton, which has a positive charge.

Despite the difference in size, proton and electron charges are exactly equal.

It is in the atom because of electromagnetic force between the proton and electron.

Opposite charges attract (+-) and like charges (+ + OR - -) repel.

The charges must be balanced for an atom to remain neutral, otherwise the atom becomes an ion, which is a charged atom. To make an atom neutral the atomic number (the number of protons) and the number of electrons must be equal.

Electrons allow molecules to form out of the elements, in a chemical reaction. By moving an electron from one atom to another, elements become oppositely charged ions. This causes an attraction which bonds them, ionic bond. Electrons also can be shared between two elements, covalent bonding (weak).

Electron configuration explains the reactions we observe in labs or in nature. Electricity and magnetism are both created out of this balance between electrons and protons.

Electrons also are responsible for light.

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12y ago

its one of the particles that has a negative charge

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9y ago

Electrons are very important for chemistry: chemical reactions, chemical bonds etc. They are electrically charged (negative) and compensate the charges of protons - and the atom is neutral.

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13y ago

it is how elements bond

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Q: What do electrons do?
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