Who discovered the electron? This is a question that has been asked and debated by scientists for over a century. In the 19th century, physicists began to unlock the secrets of atoms and the structure of matter, and it was during this period that scientists first proposed the existence of the electron.
Since then, many experiments and theories have been developed to better understand this fundamental particle. In this blog post, we will explore the history of the discovery of the electron, the key experiments and scientists involved, and the impact this discovery had on our understanding of the atom.
J.J. Thomson – 1856
J.J. Thomson is credited with the first major discovery of who discovered the electron in 1856. He conducted several experiments using a cathode ray tube to observe how electricity flowed through a vacuum, and he was the first to recognize that electricity was carried by something smaller than an atom. This groundbreaking discovery marked the beginning of modern atomic theory and laid the groundwork for many later discoveries.
Thomson’s work also showed that atoms could be broken down into even smaller particles, which he named “corpuscles”. Although Thomson never identified the corpuscles as electrons, his research helped identify the role they play in creating electricity.
Sir Joseph John Thomson – 1897
Sir Joseph John Thomson is credited with who discovered the electron in 1897. His work in the field of physics, particularly in the area of electricity, revolutionized our understanding of the atom. Through experiments with cathode ray tubes, he showed that the beam of light emitted from the tube was made up of a stream of particles, now known as electrons. His discoveries opened the door to modern particle physics and quantum mechanics. Thomson was awarded the Nobel Prize for his work in 1906, becoming the first British scientist to receive the honor. He is remembered for his incredible contributions to science, including his pioneering work in understanding the structure and behavior of atoms.
George Johnstone Stoney – 1891
George Johnstone Stoney was a physicist and mathematician who is credited with being the first to recognize and name the electron. Stoney had originally been studying the properties of electricity and gas, and he believed that these particles, known as ions, contained a subatomic particle.
He estimated the size of the particle, which he called an electron, and named it for the Greek word for amber, elektron. Although Stoney was the first to name the electron, it was not until J.J. Thomson discovered the electron in 1897 that its existence was proven.
Thomson’s discovery demonstrated Stoney’s theory that electrons were contained in atoms, and marked a major milestone in physics history. Thanks to Stoney’s pioneering work, we now know that electrons are the building blocks of all matter and are essential in understanding who discovered the electron and the secrets of atom.
Robert Millikan – 1909
Robert Millikan is often credited as the first person to accurately measure and identify the charge of the electron and thusly, as the one who discovered the electron. Millikan was a Nobel Prize-winning American physicist whose early research into the nature of electricity earned him worldwide fame.
Millikan conducted his famous oil drop experiment in 1909, measuring the charge of electrons and calculating the value of the electron’s charge. His experiments demonstrated the existence of subatomic particles that were responsible for electricity and magnetism.
In doing so, he showed that atoms were composed of even smaller particles, confirming the hypothesis of J.J. Thomson, who had previously discovered the electron in 1897. Through his work, Millikan provided an empirical basis for understanding matter and established a firm foundation for modern atomic theory.