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GCSE Chemistry · key term
A particle smaller than an atom, such as a proton, neutron or electron.
Used by Edexcel and OCR
Specification 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 · Paper 1, Paper 2
A particle smaller than an atom that forms part of its structure, such as a proton, neutron or electron.
Revise: Dalton Atomic ModelUnlike Dalton’s solid sphere, Thomson’s atom contained a subatomic particle, but it had no central nucleus.
A particle that forms part of an atom: a proton, neutron or electron.
Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)
Revise: Sub-atomic particlesAtoms contain three important subatomic particles: protons, neutrons and electrons. Protons and neutrons are in the nucleus, while electrons occupy shells around it. To compare these particles conveniently, chemists use relative charge and relative mass.
An electron's relative mass is very small, but it is not zero. It may be treated as negligible when comparing the masses of subatomic particles.
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