Question

What is an electron? State its relative mass and charge.

Answer 1

An atom has both some positive charge and some negative charge, these charges are due to neutrons, protons, and electrons. The charge by the mass ratio of the electron is equal to $1.76\text{ x 1}{{\text{0}}^{8}}$ coulombs /g, so we can calculate the relative mass and charge.

Complete step-by-step answer: There are many elements in our universe by which the substances are made. These elements have both positive and negative charges. These are due to the presence of neutrons, protons, and electrons in the atom. The positive charge is due to protons and the negative charge is due to electrons. So, we can say that a fundamental particle that has a unit negative charge is known as the electron and it is represented with ${{e}^{-}}$.
These electrons were discovered in the cathode rays in which they were traveling. This was discovered by J. J. Thomson in 1897. So, while doing the experiments he found the mass or relative of the electron is equal to $\frac{1}{1837}$th of the hydrogen atom, and the relative charge on the electron is -1.
J.J. Thomson determined the charge by mass ratio which was equal to $1.76\text{ x 1}{{\text{0}}^{8}}$ coulombs /g. so, he then calculated the charge of the electron and mass of the electron. The charge was found to be $1.60\text{ x 1}{{\text{0}}^{-19}}\text{ colulombs}$ and the mass was found to be $9.11\text{ x 1}{{\text{0}}^{-28}}\text{ gram}$.

Note: Like electrons, protons and neutrons were also discovered and the charge on the proton is +1 and there is no charge on the neutron, and the mass of both proton and neutron was found to be equal to a hydrogen atom.