What did J.J. Thomson discover about the atom that changed the previously used atomic model?

J.J. Thomson hypothesized and discovered that the atom was not the smallest unit of matter but that instead there were much smaller units. He discovered "sub-atomic particles" which make up atoms. The sub-atomic particle that Thomson discovered was the electron. He discovered this through a process of experiments testing cathode rays.

Answered by Gibbs | 2024-06-10

J.J. Thomson discovered the electron in 1897, revealing that atoms are composed of smaller particles, which changed the previous atomic model. His experiments with cathode rays showed that these negatively charged particles existed within atoms, leading to the understanding that atoms are not the smallest units of matter. Thomson's findings laid the foundation for future developments in atomic theory.
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Answered by Gibbs | 2024-10-16