<P> The electron is a subatomic particle , symbol e − or β − , with a negative elementary electric charge . Electrons belong to the first generation of the lepton particle family , and are generally thought to be elementary particles because they have no known components or substructure . The electron has a mass that is approximately 1 / 1836 that of the proton . Quantum mechanical properties of the electron include an intrinsic angular momentum ( spin ) of a half - integer value , expressed in units of the reduced Planck constant , ħ . As it is a fermion , no two electrons can occupy the same quantum state , in accordance with the Pauli exclusion principle . Like all elementary particles , electrons exhibit properties of both particles and waves : they can collide with other particles and can be diffracted like light . The wave properties of electrons are easier to observe with experiments than those of other particles like neutrons and protons because electrons have a lower mass and hence a longer De Broglie wavelength for a given energy . </P>
<P> The electron is a subatomic particle , symbol e − or β − , with a negative elementary electric charge . Electrons belong to the first generation of the lepton particle family , and are generally thought to be elementary particles because they have no known components or substructure . The electron has a mass that is approximately 1 / 1836 that of the proton . Quantum mechanical properties of the electron include an intrinsic angular momentum ( spin ) of a half - integer value , expressed in units of the reduced Planck constant , ħ . As it is a fermion , no two electrons can occupy the same quantum state , in accordance with the Pauli exclusion principle . Like all elementary particles , electrons exhibit properties of both particles and waves : they can collide with other particles and can be diffracted like light . The wave properties of electrons are easier to observe with experiments than those of other particles like neutrons and protons because electrons have a lower mass and hence a longer De Broglie wavelength for a given energy . </P>
subatomic particle that has a negative charge is called
subatomic particle that has a negative charge is called
electron
electron