Electron
[ih-lek-tron] /ɪˈlɛk trɒn/
noun
1.
Also called negatron. Physics, Chemistry. an elementary particle that is a fundamental constituent of matter, having a negative charge of 1.602 × 10 −19 coulombs, a mass of 9.108 × 10 −31 kilograms, and spin of ½, and existing independently or as the component outside the nucleus of an atom.
2.
Electricity. a unit of charge equal to the charge on one electron.
/ɪˈlɛktrɒn/
noun
1.
a stable elementary particle present in all atoms, orbiting the nucleus in numbers equal to the atomic number of the element in the neutral atom; a lepton with a negative charge of 1.602 176 462 × 10–19 coulomb, a rest mass of 9.109 381 88 × 10–31 kilogram, a radius of 2.817 940 285 × 10–15 metre, and a spin of 1/2
n.
coined 1891 by Irish physicist George J. Stoney (1826-1911) from electric + -on, as in ion (q.v.). Electron microscope translates German Elektronenmikroskop (1932).
electron e·lec·tron (ĭ-lěk’trŏn’)
n.
Abbr. e
A stable subatomic particle in the lepton family having a rest mass of 9.1066 × 10-28 gram and a unit negative electric charge of approximately 1.602 × 10-19 coulomb. Also called negatron.
electron
(ĭ-lěk’trŏn’)
electron [(i-lek-tron)]
An elementary particle with a negative charge and a very small mass. Electrons are normally found in orbits around the nucleus of an atom. The chemical reactions that an atom undergoes depend primarily on the electrons in the outermost orbits (the valence electrons).
Note: The movement of large numbers of electrons through conductors constitutes an electric current.
electronics
A sub-atomic particle with a negative quantised charge. A flow of electrical current consists of the unidirectional (on average) movement of many electrons. The more mobile electrons are in a given material, the greater it electrical conductance (or equivalently, the lower its resistance).
(1995-10-06)
Read Also:
- Electron-affinity
noun, Physics, Chemistry. 1. the quantitative measure, usually given in electron-volts, of the tendency of an atom or molecule to capture an electron and to form a negative ion. noun 1. a measure of the ability of an atom or molecule to form a negative ion, expressed as the energy released when an electron is […]
- Electron-camera
noun, Electronics. 1. an apparatus that converts an optical image into a corresponding electric current by electronic means without the intervention of mechanical scanning.
- Electron capture
noun (physics) 1. the transformation of an atomic nucleus in which an electron from the atom is spontaneously absorbed into the nucleus. A proton is changed into a neutron, thereby reducing the atomic number by 1. A neutrino is emitted. The process may be detected by the consequent emission of the characteristic X-rays of the […]
- Electron carrier
electron carrier Any of various molecules that are capable of accepting one or two electrons from one molecule and donating them to another in the process of electron transport. As the electrons are transferred from one electron carrier to another, their energy level decreases, and energy is released. Cytochromes and quinones (such as coenzyme Q) […]
- Electron-diffraction
noun, Physics. 1. the phenomenon whereby electron waves scattered by the regularly spaced atoms of a crystal produce diffraction patterns characteristic of the crystal structure and the wavelength.