Circuit Globe / Comparisons / Difference Between Electron and Proton

Difference Between Electron and Proton

Electrons and Protons are two prime components of an atom out of three. The crucial difference
between electron and proton is that an electron is a charged particle with negative polarity. As
against, a proton is a charged particle having a positive charge.

Both electron and proton are the fundamental components of an atomic structure and has their own
significance.

What is an atom?

We know that an atom is regarded as the smallest particle as it is the fundamental unit by which a
matter is composed. While this atom itself has 3 major subatomic particles which are known as
electron, proton and neutron.
Multiple atoms form a molecule and the atoms inside a molecule are attached by chemical bonds.

The electric charge of the atom maintains the bond between the atoms in a molecule.

Among electron, proton and neutron, the electrons and protons are negatively and positively charged
respectively while the neutrons are neutrally charged particles.

Electrons and protons hold different properties and are present at different locations inside the atom.
Therefore, has various differentiating factors which we will discuss here. But first, see what are the
contents covered under this article.

Content: Electron Vs Proton

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Basis for Comparison Electron Proton

 Basis for Comparison Electron Proton

Symbolized as e p

Polarity Negative Positive

Location within the atom Outside Present inside

the the nucleus.
nucleus
in a well-
defined
orbit.

Electric charge -1 +1

Mass Less Comparatively

(9.1 * more
10-31 (1.67 * 10-27
Kg) kg)

Moving ability Exist Not exist

Removal or addition These These are

can be very difficult
easily to get added
removed or removed.
from or
added to
an atom.

Definition of Electron

A subatomic particle of an atom that holds electric charge of negative polarity. Inside an atom, ideally,
electrons are present in spherical shells and move around the nucleus in an orbital path.

While when external energy is supplied to the electrons then they move from an atom to another.
Basically, the energy supplied to the electrons frees them from the shells thus they become mobile
and gets attached to its nearby atom whenever there is a deficiency of electron in that particular
atom.

In the case of conductors, the movement of electrons is the reason for the flow of current. And an
electron is considered to have unit electrical charge generally represented as e.

The electron charge is measured in coulomb and has a value of about 1.602 * 10-19 C. And all the
electrons are considered to be identically similar to each other.

Definition of Proton

Proton is another major particle of an atom with a charge of positive polarity. It’s a crucial component
of an atom that forms the nucleus of an atom with the neutron. As the nucleus of the atom is at the
centre thus a proton holding a positive charge is present at the centre of the atomic structure.

It is denoted by a symbol p and has a charge +1.

A noteworthy point over here is that the number of protons that are present in an atom signifies its
atomic number. As the nucleus holds both protons and neutrons thus combinedly called nucleons.

As electrons and protons hold the same charge of opposite polarity thus there exist a force of
attraction between them inside the atom. Due to this attractive force, the electrons and protons are
attached within the atom.

This is the reason ideally the electrons are bounded and moves in the orbital path.

An atom has the same number of electrons and protons so the positive and negative charges get
cancelled making the atom electrically neutral.

Key Differences Between Electron and Proton

1. An electron is a negatively charged component of an atom whereas the proton is a positively

charged body.
2. The electrons are presents outside the nucleus in the orbiting shells. But the protons along with
neutrons form the nucleus of the atom and are present at the centre of the atomic nuclei.
 3. Electrons are highly mobile as these are present in the shells of the atoms and can be easily freed
on supplying energy. However, as the proton is present at the nucleus of the atom thus are not
mobile like the electrons.
4. The polarity of electrons is negative while that of the proton is positive.
5. The mass of a proton is 2000 times of an electron thus is quite higher than the mass of the
electron. Generally, the mass of an electron is 9.1 * 10-31 Kg while that of the proton is 1.67 * 10-27
kg.
6. The addition and removal of electrons to or from the atom are quite easy due to presence in the
orbits. While adding and removing the protons is not an easy task.

Conclusion

Thus, this discussion concludes that all the electron, proton and neutron constitute atom but as the
neutron is neutrally charged thus the force of attraction between two unlike charges i.e., between
electron and proton binds the subatomic particles within the atom.

Related Terms:
1. Difference Between Alpha, Beta and Gamma Particles
2. Difference Between Charge & Current
3. Difference Between Static & Current Electricity
4. Difference Between Electronegativity and Electron Affinity
5. Electron Gun

1 Comment

Henry
August 16, 2020 at 10:37 pm
Reply

great article
Leave a Reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

COMMENT

NAME *

EMAIL *

WEBSITE

SAVE MY NAME, EMAIL, AND WEBSITE IN THIS BROWSER FOR THE NEXT TIME I COMMENT.

I'm not a robot

reCAPTCHA
Privacy - Terms

Post Comment

Related Terms

Difference Between Charge & Current

Difference Between Electronegativity and Electron Affinity

Difference Between Electrical Energy and Electrical Power

Difference Between Metals and Non-Metals

Difference Between Resistance & Resistivity

 Difference Between Alternating Current (AC) & Direct Current (DC)

Difference Between Speed and Velocity

Difference Between Donor and Acceptor Impurities

Difference Between Valence Band and Conduction Band

Difference Between Electrolytes and Nonelectrolytes

Common Terms

Synchronous Machine

Regenerative Braking

Thevenin’s Theorem

Auto Transformer

Armature Winding

DC Machine

RLC Series Circuit

RS Flip Flop

Power Triangle

Parallel Resonance

Most Searched Terms

Star Delta Starter

Peak Value, Average Value and RMS Value

Active, Reactive and Apparent Power

Electrical Bus-Bar and its Types

Emf Equation of a DC Generator

 Electrical Earthing

Two Wattmeter Method of Power Measurement

Reciprocity Theorem

Eddy Current Loss

Excitation System

New Additions

Difference Between Physical and Chemical Change

Difference Between Alpha, Beta and Gamma Particles

Difference Between Electrolytes and Nonelectrolytes

Difference Between Electromagnetic Wave and Matter Wave

Difference Between Speed and Velocity

Difference Between Kinetics and Kinematics

Difference Between Synchronous and Asynchronous Counter

Difference Between Analog and Digital Signals

Difference Between Stationary and Progressive Waves

Difference Between Positive and Negative Feedback

Categories

Circuit Theory

Comparisons

DC Machines

Electrical Drives

Electrical Instrumentation

Electrical Machines

Electrical Measurement

Electrical Terms

Electronic Instrumentation
Electronic Terms

Induction Motor

Magnetic Circuit

Optical Fiber Communication

Power Systems

Special Machines

Switchgear and Protection

Synchronous Machines

Transformer

Contact Us