J.J. Thomson's Electron Theory Explained for Kids

J.J. Thomson was that genius scientist who made a very important discovery more than a hundred years ago; he learned that atoms are composed of even smaller particles called electrons. Until his discovery, atoms were believed to be the smallest things in the universe, and they could not be divided into smaller pieces. But Thomson totally changed that thinking when he proved that atoms actually contain small, negatively charged particles, which we now know as electrons.

Now, let's take an interesting and easy tour of what J.J. Thomson discovered electrons: what they are, arrangement, cool facts about their mass, and cool facts about their charge.

What is an Electron?

An electron is among the tiniest pieces in the universe. Just think of the minutest thing one could think of, and then imagine something much more minute than that! That would be the electron. Electrons are minute to such a large degree that they are much smaller compared to the atom itself, which already is a very minute entity.

Electrons are special because they carry something called a negative charge. A charge is an invisible force that can cause things to push or pull on each other. You may have experienced that charge if you've ever rubbed a balloon on your hair and then had the balloon stick to the wall-electrons are to blame! When we say electrons carry a negative charge, we only mean they carry the type of charge that creates a force pulling them toward positive charge.

The Discovery of Electrons

In fact, until J.J. Thomson came along, people thought atoms were solid balls of matter-that is, tiny marbles that could not be split apart. Thomson did an experiment with what was called a cathode ray tube, which changed absolutely everything.

In this experiment, Thomson passed electricity through the tube, and he realized something quite interesting - a beam of tiny particles moved from one end of the tube to the other. This beam was made up of electrons! By studying how these electrons moved, Thomson realized that they were much lighter than any atom and also had a negative charge.

The Mass of Electron

Now, let's talk about how heavy or light an electron is. The electron has a really tiny mass. Suppose one had a small grain of sand and then broke this into millions of pieces - smaller and smaller - one of those fragments would be a lot larger than an electron!

To put it precisely, an electron masses approximately 9.109 x 10^-31 kilograms. That is super small! Now, take the mass of electron and compare it with something like a grain of sand: the electron would be so lighter that for all practical purposes it could appear to have no weight at all. That is why electrons zip around inside atoms with so much ease: they are just so light they can zoom around with great rapidity!

Charge of Electron

The next cool thing to know has to do with the charge of electron. We previously said that electrons have a negative charge, but how much of a charge do they have? Scientists have measured this, and the charge of electron is roughly -1.602 x 10^-19 coulombs. Don't worry if that number seems confusing-what's important to remember is that this charge is always the same for every electron.

With them being negatively charged, electrons are essentially attracted to anything positive in nature, much like a magnet would be to metal. The nucleus, or the middle part of an atom, has a positive charge; therefore, electrons naturally get pulled in toward the nucleus. However, they do not simply stick to it but manage to keep circling around it, just like the Earth moves around the Sun.

Electron Configuration: How Electrons Are Arranged

Electron configuration is a big phrase for how electrons are arranged or structured within an atom.

Well, just think of it as some sort of huge building, say, with multiple floors. Each floor houses a particular number of electrons that it can hold. The floors near the center of the atom, basically where the nucleus is, are the tiniest and can accommodate only a few electrons. In moving further upstairs, the floor will be larger, thus holding more electrons.

Here's a simple way to think about it:

1. The ground floor, which is closest to the nucleus, is filled with up to 2 electrons.

2. The second floor fills with up to 8 electrons.

3. The third floor fills up to 18 electrons.

4. The fourth floor fills up to a maximum of 32 electrons.

And so on, as one goes up the floor, the number of electrons increases.

Configuration of electrons, as scientists refer to it, involves what floors the electrons are on and how many are on each floor. This configuration is very important because basically, it sets up how atoms behave and ultimately how they are connected to form everything around us from water to air we breathe.

Why is Electron Configuration Important?

Electron configuration acts like a map that shows just how an atom was built. In such a way, it helps the scientists understand why some materials conduct electricity, others do not, and how different elements would react with each other. For example, in a metal atom, the arrangement of electrons is done in a way that it would be pretty easy for the electrons to move around, which is actually why metals can conduct electricity at such ease.

How did J.J. Has Thomson's discovery changed science?

Up until the time J.J. Thomson discovered the electron, it was considered that atoms didn't have any parts to speak of-they were just the smallest bits of matter and that was it. But after Thomson's work, everything changed. Scientists realized that atoms were more like little solar systems, with electrons zipping around a central nucleus.

The discovery of Thomson's electron was the beginning to understand all those complex things constituting our universe. It enabled other scientists later on to discover more parts of the atom, such as protons and neutrons, until it eventually led to the development of modern electronics, including computers and smartphones.

The theory of electron configuration had been quite innovative for atomic physics. Surprisingly, it wasn't until 1904 that J.J. Thomson invented a model to describe atoms. It was named the "plum pudding" model, in which he described atoms as containing electrons within a pudding-like positive charge. As per this model, the electrons would be arranged in some sort of way that balanced the positive charge so as to achieve stability.

The revolutionary part of Thomson's theory was that it ascribed the then-newly-discovered electrons, tiny negatively charged particles, to be integral parts of the atom. This was a necessary step toward atomic structural understanding, although it was soon to be abandoned in favor of more-precise theories such as the Rutherford and Bohr models.

Although Thomson's model did not explain the detailed arrangement of electrons in an atom, it gave a stepping stone for other discoveries; electron shells and quantum mechanics were developed. His work laid the ground for how electrons are arranged around the nucleus, giving the modern theory of electron configuration that explains the behavior of elements and their chemical properties.

Fun Facts About Electrons

Here are some cool things to remember about electrons, along with other interesting facts:

Electrons are super fast: Electrons race around an atom's nucleus at a speed almost one-tenth the speed of light!

Electrons can jump: The moment electrons have gained energy, they can jump to a higher floor-or in other words, to a higher energy level. When they lose energy, they jump down; in the process, sometimes they emit light. That is how neon signs and some glow-in-the-dark toys work.

Electrons make magnets work: The motions of electrons in some materials produce magnetic fields. That is why magnets can stick to your refrigerator.

Electrons are omnipresent: anything that one can see or touch is made of atoms, and every atom has electrons. So, electrons are everywhere!

How Electrons Help Us in Everyday Life

Electrons may be the last thing that comes to your mind every day. The truth is, it plays a big role in everyday life. Here are some ways electrons are important:

Electricity: When you light up a light, use a computer, charge your phone, or perform any similar activity, the electrons in the wire are moving around, providing the facility. The movement of electrons is what we refer to as electricity. Chemistry: The volcano from baking soda mixed with vinegar has such a reaction because of how electrons move between different atoms.

Technology: The gadgets that we use today, the TVs, smartphones, and video games, all work based on how electrons move inside tiny circuits within these devices.

How Thomson's Work Led to More Discoveries

After J.J. Thomson had discovered the electron, and other scientists began to tinker further with atoms. One of Thomson's students, Ernest Rutherford, learned that most of an atom was empty space, with an extremely tiny nucleus at its center. Another scientist, Niels Bohr, determined that electrons orbited around the nucleus in set patterns, similar in many ways to how the planets orbit the sun.

Eventually, even more particles inside the atom such as protons and neutrons were found, and a whole new way of thinking about this very small world of atoms and particles was developed. This new understanding of electrons and atoms helped create our modern world of amazing technology and discoveries.

Conclusion: The Importance of Electrons in Our World

But small as they are, electrons are very important. Thanks to the discovery by J.J. Thomson, it is now known that the tiny particles form a part of each atom and play an enormous role in everything, from electricity in the house to the way chemicals react. The knowledge of electrons helps scholars develop new materials, construct powerful computers, and even study the most remote parts of space.

So, every next time that light switches on, understand that electrons do all the work-and more than a hundred years back, J.J. Thomson came up with such a brilliant discovery!

FAQs 

Who discovered electron theory?

Joseph John Thomson - J. J. Thomson, 1856-1940, see photo at American Institute of Physics-is widely credited as being the discoverer of the electron.

What is electron current theory?

This theory of the composition of electric current with negative ions is called electron flow theory. J. J. Thomson produced the electron flow theory. This means that the negative ions originate at the cathode, where they are generated; then flow to the positively charged anode.20 Sep 2022

What is the modern electron theory?

According to this theory, every matter is made up of atoms which comprise electrons, protons, and neutrons. Both electrons and protons have charge but because of strong nuclear forces, the protons are tightly bound together. Those are only electrons which are available for inducing charge.

Is electron just a theory?

No one has directly seen either an electron or a fairy. They are theoretical constructs useful for the explanation of observations that would otherwise be difficult to explain.

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