Discovery of Electron

The Electron was covered by J.J. Thomson in 1897 using
a cathode ray discharge tube experiment
His experiments, where he studied the properties of cathode rays, led him to conclude that they were streams of negatively charged particles, now known as electrons. This discovery demonstrated that atoms are not indivisible, as previously believed, but are composed of smaller subatomic particles. 
Elaboration:
  • Cathode Ray Experiment:
    J.J. Thomson's experiment involved passing electricity through a gas inside a sealed glass tube with two electrodes, one positive and one negative (cathode). 
  • Cathode Rays:
    He observed that rays emitted from the cathode were deflected by electric and magnetic fields, indicating they were negatively charged. 
  • Determining the Charge-to-Mass Ratio:
    Thomson measured the bending of the rays in different fields and determined the ratio of their charge to their mass, which was much lower than that of any known ion. 
  • Conclusion:
    This led him to conclude that these rays were not simply ions but a new, fundamental particle, the electron, which was much lighter than an atom and carried a negative charge. 

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