Which particle is a lightweight, negatively charged particle in atoms?

Which particle is a lightweight, negatively charged particle in atoms?

• A. Proton
• B. Electron
• C. Neutron
• D. Positron

Answer: (B)

Electric charge and mass differentiate subatomic particles. In atoms, the lightweight, negatively charged particles are electrons. They are far lighter than protons and neutrons—about 1/1836 of a proton’s mass—so their role is described as lightweight. Their negative charge allows them to be attracted to the positively charged nucleus, forming the electron cloud that surrounds the nucleus and governs chemical behavior. Protons carry a positive charge and stay in the nucleus, while neutrons have no charge and also reside in the nucleus. Positrons are the positively charged antimatter counterparts of electrons, with similar mass to electrons but opposite charge, so they are not the negative particles typically found in atoms.

Electric charge and mass differentiate subatomic particles. In atoms, the lightweight, negatively charged particles are electrons. They are far lighter than protons and neutrons—about 1/1836 of a proton’s mass—so their role is described as lightweight. Their negative charge allows them to be attracted to the positively charged nucleus, forming the electron cloud that surrounds the nucleus and governs chemical behavior. Protons carry a positive charge and stay in the nucleus, while neutrons have no charge and also reside in the nucleus. Positrons are the positively charged antimatter counterparts of electrons, with similar mass to electrons but opposite charge, so they are not the negative particles typically found in atoms.