Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom from "summary" of Atoms Under the Floorboards by Chris Woodford
Think about an atom. You've probably heard that atoms have a nucleus at their center, made up of positively charged protons and neutrally charged neutrons. But what about the electrons? These tiny, negatively charged particles are not just hanging out around the nucleus - they are actually orbiting it. Imagine the nucleus as the sun and the electrons as planets orbiting around it. The electrons whizz around the nucleus in specific energy levels, or shells, like the planets orbiting the sun in their respective orbits. These energy levels determine how far away the electrons are from the nucleus, similar to how the distance of a planet from the sun affects its orbit. The number of electrons in an atom's shells can vary. The first shell can hold up to two electrons, the second can hold up to eight, the third up to 18, and so on. This arrangement of electrons in shells is what gives an atom its unique chemical properties. For example, atoms with a full outer shell of electrons tend to be more stable and less reactive. Electrons are constantly in motion, moving at incredible speeds around the nucleus. This movement creates an electric charge, which is why electrons are negatively charged. The negative charge of the electrons balances out the positive charge of the protons in the nucleus, keeping the atom electrically neutral. The interaction between the negatively charged electrons and the positively charged protons in the nucleus is what holds an atom together. This balance of charges is essential for the stability of matter as we know it. Without electrons orbiting the nucleus, atoms would not be able to form molecules or interact with each other in the complex ways that make up the world around us.
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