Question

How do electrons differ from protons and neutrons?

Answer 1

Atoms are the smallest part of an element or matter that has the same characteristics of that element. There are three particles in an atom of various charge and mass i.e. electron, proton and neutron.

Complete answer:
According to a simple model of an atom also known as Bohr’s model, an atom has a central nucleus and outer shells. The protons and neutrons form the nucleus of an atom. The protons are positively charged particles and neutrons are electrochemically neutral.

These both particles have approximately the same mass of about 1.67 × 10-24 grams .They
together contribute to the mass of the atom. Protons and neutrons are fixed in the nucleus and cannot move.

The electrons are negatively charged particles with a mass of about 9.108×10−28 g.It has a mass of about 1/2000 mass of the hydrogen atom. This mass of the electrons is considered negligible and does not contribute to the mass of the atom.

The electrons are small particles which revolve around the nucleus in the fixed energy shells. Electrons can move from one shell to another on the absorption or emission of energy.

Note: The atomic number (Symbol Z) is the number of protons or electrons in the atom. Atomic number is the identity of an element. The mass number (Symbol A) is the total number of protons and neutrons in the atom.