What Are Electrons For Kids

In this lesson we will learn what valence electrons are and why scientists need to know the number of valence electrons an atom has.

What are electrons for kids. Valence electrons are kind of like the directions to a lego set. The electron is one of a type of subatomic particles called leptons the electron has a negative electric charge the electron has another property called spin its spin value is 1 2 which makes it a fermion. It can also mean the energy you get when electrons flow from place to place. By combining two oxygen atoms with one carbon atom the atoms can share electrons such that each atom has a full outer shell.

The mass of an electron is almost 1 000 times smaller than the mass of a proton. Electricity is the flow of tiny particles called electrons and protons. Lightning is nothing but a large number of electrons flowing through air all at once releasing a huge amount of energy. They can also bond atoms together.

Elements which have eight valence electrons noble gases are inert and they do not tend to create chemical reactions with other elements in the periodic table group. Electrons are the negatively charged particles of atom together all of the electrons of an atom create a negative charge that balances the positive charge of the protons in the atomic nucleus. Science chemistry for kids the atom is the basic building block for all matter in the universe. Electrons have a lot of energy they can create electricity in a flow of electrons called an electrical current.

Electricity can be seen in nature in a bolt of lightning. Atoms are extremely small and are made up of a few even smaller particles. Electrons have the smallest electrical charge this electrical charge equals the charge of a proton but has the opposite sign for this reason electrons are attracted by the protons of atomic nuclei and usually form atoms an electron has a mass of about 1 1836 times a proton. History biography geography science games.

Although all atoms have electrons some. In this example carbon has 4 of 8 electrons in its outer shell and oxygen has 6 of eight electrons. Electrons are always shared in pairs. An example of covalent bonding is the molecule of carbon dioxide.

While most electrons are found in atoms others move independently in matter or together as cathode rays in a vacuum in some superconductors electrons move in pairs. Electrons are extremely small compared to all of the other parts of the atom.