Wikibooks

Inorganic
Chemistry/The
Discoveries of
Electrons, Protons
and Neutrons
< Inorganic Chemistry

The Discovery of the

Electrons Protons and
Neutrons
The Electron was discovered in 1897, by
the British physicist J. J. Thomson , using
a cathode rays while doing discharge tube
experiments. Thomson also determined
e/m, ratio of the charge e to the mass m of
the material particle which constituted
these rays. Note that the first clues that
the electron existed were first noticed by
German physicist Johann Wilhelm Hittorf
in 1869 when he discovered that the glow
emitted from the cathode that increased in
size with decrease in gas pressure. Hittorf
was studding the electrical conductivity in
rarefied gases.
The particle first named "corpuscles" by
Thomson, it was later renamed "proton" by
a proposal of Irish physicist George F.
Fitzgerald that has gained universal
acceptance. he died of hepatitis few years
later at the age of 38.

Protons are subatomic particles that, with

neutrons and electrons, are the principal
constituents of atoms.

Protons are positively charged particles

that reside in the nucleus of an atom.
These protons add the overall positive
charge of a molecule. The mass of the
proton is about 1,840 times the mass of
the electron.

Through scientific discovery, protons have

been accepted as the particle that
contributes to the positive charge of an
atom. The discovery of protons can be
attributed to Rutherford.

In 1886 Gold stein discovered existence of

positively charged rays in the discharge
tube by using perforated cathode. These
rays were named as anode rays or canal
rays.

In 1899, Rutherford discovered alpha and

beta ‘rays’ from uranium. He later
demonstrated that alpha rays are the
nuclei of helium atoms. He discovered in
1914 that the nucleus of an atom
constituted and extremely dense but small
fraction of the volume of an atom and that
this nucleus was positive in charge.

Given the discoveries of electrons in 1897

by Thomson, Rutherford and other
scientists decided that a positively
charged particle must exist to center the
electron to create equally neutral atoms.

Thomson proposed the name ‘positive

rays’. Rutherford, in 1914, suggested that
this something that was positively charged
or the sportive ray of Thomson was a
particle.

He gave the name ‘positive electron’ to it.

The word ‘proton’ was assigned to this
particle by 1920.

Rutherford continued to do research until

his death, but the proton was his last big
discovery.

Later the name of negatively charged

particle (electron) was coined by
Johnstone Stoney in 1891

-- The Discovery of the Protons -- Protons

are subatomic particles that, with neutrons
and electrons, are the principal
constituents of atoms.

Protons are positively charged particles

that reside in the nucleus of an atom.
These protons add the overall positive
charge of a molecule. The mass of the
proton is 1.6727g x10 raised to -24, the
electron 9.110g x 10 raised to -28.

Through scientific discovery, protons have

been accepted as the particle that
contributes to the positive charge of an
atom. The discovery of protons can be
attributed to Rutherford.
In 1886 Goldstein discovered existence of
positively charged rays in the discharge
tube by using perforated cathode. These
rays were named as anode rays or cannal
rays.

In 1899, Rutherford discovered alpha and

beta ‘rays’ from uranium. He later
demonstrated that alpha rays are the
nuclei of helium atoms. He discovered in
1914 that the nucleus of an atom
constituted and extremely dense but small
fraction of the volume of an atom and that
this nucleus was positive in charge.
Given the discoveries of electrons in 1897
by Thomson, Rutherford and other
scientists decided that a positively
charged particle must exist to center the
electron to create equally neutral atoms.

Thomson proposed the name ‘positive

rays’. Rutherford, in 1914, suggested that
this something that was positively charged
or the sportive ray of Thompson was a
particle.

He gave the name ‘positive electron’ to it.

The word ‘proton’ was assigned to this
particle by 1920.
Rutherford continued to do research until
his death, but the proton was his last big
discovery.

Retrieved from
"https://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?
title=Inorganic_Chemistry/The_Discoveries_of_Elec
trons,_Protons_and_Neutrons&oldid=3555677"

Last edited 28 days ago by an anon…

Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless

otherwise noted.