Compare the properties of electrons, protons and neutrons.

Question

Rutherford’s alpha-particle scattering experiment was responsible for the discovery of

Answer 1

Property	Electron	Proton	Neutron
Symbol	e⁻	p⁺	n⁰
Charge	Negative (-1)	Positive (+1)	Neutral (0)
Mass	~9.11 × 10⁻³¹ kg	~1.67 × 10⁻²⁷ kg	~1.67 × 10⁻²⁷ kg
Location	Outside the nucleus (Electron cloud)	Inside the nucleus	Inside the nucleus
Relative Mass	~1/1836 of proton/neutron	1	1
Role in Atom	Responsible for chemical reactions and bonding	Determines the element (atomic number)	Contributes to atomic mass (isotope identity)

Electrons are negatively charged particles located outside the nucleus, responsible for chemical bonding and reactions.
Protons are positively charged particles located inside the nucleus. The number of protons determines the element's atomic number.
Neutrons are neutral particles located inside the nucleus. They contribute to the mass of the atom but don't affect its chemical properties.

Solution and Explanation