Question

Which of the following is false about electron? (1) The negatively charged electrons in an atom are attracted by the positively charged nucleus by electrostatic attractive force. (2) An electron near the nucleus is strongly attracted by the nucleus and has low potential energy. (3) An electron distant from the nucleus is less firmly held and has high potential energy. (4) On heating an atom, all of its electrons are ejected.

Short answer

Option (4) is false.

Step-by-step solution

Understand electrostatic forces

Electrons are negatively charged particles, and they are attracted to the positively charged nucleus due to electrostatic attractive forces. This agrees with option (1).

Analyze the proximity and energy relationship

An electron that is near the nucleus experiences a strong attraction to the nucleus, leading to lower potential energy. This aligns with option (2).

Consider the distant electron's energy

An electron farther from the nucleus is not held as tightly and thus has higher potential energy. This corresponds with option (3).

Evaluate the effect of heating

Heating an atom increases the energy of the electrons, but not all electrons are ejected from the atom. This makes option (4) false.

Key concepts

Atomic Structure

Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter. They consist of three main subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Understanding the arrangement of these particles is key to grasping atomic structure.

• Protons are positively charged particles found in the nucleus.
• Neutrons have no charge and are also located in the nucleus.
• Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus.

The nucleus is at the center of the atom and contains nearly all the atom's mass. Electrons orbit this nucleus in various energy levels or shells. The number of protons in the nucleus defines the element. Electrons occupy specific energy levels around the nucleus, and the arrangement of these electrons determines the chemical properties of the atom.

Electrostatic Forces

Electrostatic forces are crucial in understanding how electrons interact with the nucleus. These forces are the attraction or repulsion between charged particles.

• Since protons are positively charged and electrons are negatively charged, there is an attractive force between them.
• This attraction helps keep the electrons in their orbits around the nucleus.

The strength of the electrostatic force depends on the distance between the charges; the closer the charges are, the stronger the force. This explains why electrons closer to the nucleus experience stronger attraction and have lower potential energy.

Think of it like a magnet: the closer you bring a metal object to a magnet, the stronger the pull you feel.

Potential Energy

Potential energy in the context of electrons within an atom refers to the energy that electrons have due to their position relative to the nucleus.

Lesser potential energy is found in electrons that orbit close to the nucleus. This is because the electrostatic attraction is stronger, pulling them more tightly toward the nucleus. An electron farther away from the nucleus has higher potential energy. This electron is less tightly bound to the nucleus due to weaker electrostatic forces and can be more easily influenced by external factors or other atoms.

Think about stretching a rubber band: the more you stretch it, the more potential energy it has. Similarly, the farther the electron is from the nucleus, the more potential energy it possesses.