E LECTRON THEORY OF

ELECTRICITY
 E LECTRON THEORY OF
ELECTRICITY
All matter, whether a gas, a liquid or a solid, is composed of
atoms which, in turn, are made up of fundamental
subatomic particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Basic structure of an atom

 P ROTONS , N EUTRONS &
E LECTRONS
Protons are positively charged particles
found in the atomic nucleus. Protons were
discovered by Ernest Rutherford..
Neutrons are uncharged particles found in
the atomic nucleus. Neutrons were
discovered by James Chadwick in 1932.
Electrons are negatively charged particles
that surround the atom's nucleus. Electrons
were discovered by J. J. Thomson in 1897.
 S TRUCTURE OF THE ATOM

The nucleus of the atom is the tiny

central core of an atom and is
composed of protons and neutrons.
Rutherfords model is the nuclear
atom: In the nuclear atom, the
proton and neutron are located in
the nucleus. The electrons are
distributed around the nucleus.
R UTHERFORD S N UCLEAR
M ODEL OF THE ATOM
 S TRUCTURE OF AN ATOM

Simplified representation of the atom. Electrons

travel in spherical orbits called shells.
 S TRUCTURE OF AN ATOM

Electrons orbit the nucleus in spherical orbits

called shells, designated by letters K, L, M, N,
and so on.
Only certain numbers of electrons can exist
within any given shell. For example, there can be
up to 2 electrons in the K shell, up to 8 in the L
shell, up to 18 in the M shell, and up to 32 in the
N shell.
The number in any shell depends on the
element.
 S TRUCTURE OF AN ATOM

Atomic structure of Copper

 E LECTRON THEORY OF
ELECTRICITY

No element can have more than eight

valence electrons; when a valence shell
has eight electrons, it is filled.
The number of valence electrons that an
element has directly affects its electrical
properties.
Solid materials may be classified as
conductors, insulators and semiconductors.
 C ONDUCTORS

Conductors are materials having less

than four valence electrons. They
conduct electrical current very easily
because of their free electrons.
Some common conductors are
copper, aluminum, gold, and silver.
ATOMIC STRUCTURE OF
A LUMINUM
 I NSULATORS

Insulators are materials having

greater than four valence
electrons. They oppose electrical
current and make poor
conductors.
Some common insulators are
glass, air, plastic, rubber, and
wood.
ATOMIC STRUCTURE OF
P HOSPHORUS
 S EMICONDUCTORS

Semiconductors are materials

having 4 valence electrons.
They are neither a conductor
nor an insulator.
Some common
semiconductors are
germanium and silicon.
ATOMIC S TRUCTURE OF
S ILICON