The Electrical Nature of Matter

Electrical nature of atoms Matter = atoms Atoms have + and – charge Opposite charges attract Same charges repel Only electrons move

A Model for the Electrical Nature of Matter 1. All matter is made up of submicroscopic particles called atoms. 2. At the centre of each atom is a nucleus, with two kinds of particles: the positively charged proton and the uncharged neutron. Protons do not move from the nucleus when an atom becomes charged. 3. A cloud of negatively charged electrons surround the nucleus. An electron has the same amount of charge as a proton, but the kind of charge is opposite. When atoms become charged, only the electrons move from atom to atom. 4. Like charges repel each other; unlike charges attract each other.

The Electrostatic Series You can use a list called the electrostatic series to determine the kind of electric charge produced on each substance when any two substances on the list are rubbed together. When charging by friction occurs, the substance higher on the list always loses electrons and becomes positively charged, while the substance lower on the list gain electrons and become negatively charged.

The Electrostatic Series Acetate Weak hold on electrons Glass I WoolI Cat’s fur, human hairI Calcium, magnesium, leadI SilkI Aluminum, Zinc Increasing tendency to Cotton gain electrons Paraffin WaxI EboniteI Polyethylene (plastic)I Carbon, Copper, NickelI RubberI SulfurI Platinum, GoldStrong hold on electrons