Determination of Velocity and Charge/mass (e/m) ratio of Electrons:
Sir J.J. Thomson (1897) extended the cathode ray experiment for the determination of velocity
of electrons and their charge/mass ratio, The value of e/m for an electron = 1.76 x 108 C/g. For
the H+ ion (proton),
e/m = 96500/1.008 C/g.
Millikan’s Oil Drop Method: Determination of Charge on an Electron:
In 1909, Millikan measured the charge on an electron by his oil drop method. In this method a
spray of oil droplets is produced by an atomizer, some of which pass through an opening into a
viewing chamber, where we can observe them with a microscope. Often these droplets have an
electric charge, which is picked up from the friction forming the oil droplets. A droplet may
have one or more additional electrons in it, giving it a negative charge.
As the droplet falls to the bottom of the chamber, it passes between two electrically charged
plates. The droplet can be suspended between them; we adjust the voltage in the plates so that
the electrical attraction upward just balances the force of gravity downward. We then use the
voltage needed to establish this balance to calculate the mass - to charge ratio for the droplet.
Because we already know the mass of the droplet we can find the charge on it.
Millikan's found that the charge on all droplets could be expressed as whole number multiples
of e, where the value of e is 1.602 x10-19 C. By combining e/m. ratio and 'e' we calculate mass of
the electron
Me = e / (e/m) = 1.6022 x 10-19 / 1.76 x 108
= 9.104´10-31 kg
This very small value shows that the electron is a subatomic particle. Thus charge on an
electron = 1.602 x 10–19C.
DISCOVERY OF PROTON:
POSITIVE RAYS OR CANAL RAYS
Atoms are electrically neutral. Hence after the discovery of the negatively charged constituent
(electron) of an atom, attempts were made to discover the positively charged counterpart of
electrons. By using a discharge tube containing a perforated cathode. Goldstein (1886) found
that some rays passed through these holes in a direction opposite to that of the cathode rays.These are called the positive rays or canal rays. J.J. Thomson (1910) measured their charge by
mass ratio from which he was able to deduce that these contain positive ions. Their properties
are:
They are positively charged.
The positive charge is either equal to or whole number multiple of the charge on an electron.
When hydrogen gas was filled in the discharge tube the positive charge on the positive rays
was equal to the negative charge on an electron, and the mass was less than the hydrogen
atom.
Unlike cathode rays the properties of positive rays are characteristics of the gas in the tube.
The deflection of positive rays under the influence of an electric or magnetic field is smaller
than that of the cathode rays for the same strength of field. This shows that the positive rays
have a greater mass than that of electrons.
The mass of the positive rays depends on the atomic weights or molecular weights of the gases
in the discharge tube. The charge/mass ratio also varies because the change in positive charge
on the rays. It may be either equal to or integral multiple of the charge on an electron.
The lightest of all particles identified in positive rays from different elements was one with a
mass very slightly less than that of hydrogen atom (or nearly equal to H-atom). The lightest
positively charged particle is called a proton (P or P+). Positive rays are atomic or molecular
resides from which some electrons have been removed. The removed electrons constitute the
cathode rays and the positive residues form the positive or canal rays.
Positive Rays Cathode Rays
H H+ e–
O → O+ e–
O2 → O2
+ e–
O2 → O2
2+ 2e–
The mass of a proton is very slightly less than that of a H-atom. This shows that protons are subatomic
particles. Protons are fundamental constituent of matter because positive rays are
produced by all substances.
“A sub-atomic particle, which is a fundamental constituent of all matter having a mass slightly
less than that of H-atom and which carries a positive charge equal in magnitude to the charge
on an electron, is called a proton”. A proton is denoted by p or p+ of +1p.