Electron

History

The electron as a unit of charge in electrochemistry had been posited by G. Johnstone Stoney in 1874. In 1894, he also invented the word itself.

Related Topics:
G. Johnstone Stoney - 1874 - 1894

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The discovery that the electron was a subatomic particle was made in 1897 by J.J. Thomson at the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge University, while he was studying "cathode rays". Influenced by the work of James Clerk Maxwell, and the discovery of the X-ray, he deduced that cathode rays existed and were negatively charged "particles", which he called "corpuscles". He published his discovery in 1897.

Related Topics:
Subatomic particle - 1897 - J.J. Thomson - Cavendish Laboratory - Cambridge University - Cathode rays - James Clerk Maxwell - X-ray - Cathode ray

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The periodic law states that the chemical properties of elements largely repeat themselves periodically and is the foundation of the periodic table of elements. The law itself was initially explained by the atomic mass of the elements. However, as there were anomalies in the periodic table, efforts were made to find a better explanation for it. In 1913, Henry Moseley introduced the concept of the atomic number and explained the periodic law with the number of protons each element has. In the same year, Niels Bohr showed that electrons are the actual foundation of the table. In 1916, Gilbert Newton Lewis and Irving Langmuir explained the chemical bonding of elements by electronic interactions.

Related Topics:
Periodic law - Periodic table - Atomic mass - 1913 - Henry Moseley - Atomic number - Niels Bohr - 1916 - Gilbert Newton Lewis - Irving Langmuir

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