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Difference Between Electron and Proton (With Comparison Chart) - Circuit Globe
Difference Between Electron and Proton (With Comparison Chart) - Circuit Globe
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.
1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Conclusion
Comparison Chart
Symbolized as e p
Electric charge -1 +1
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.
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.
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
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