Final answer:
The word 'electron' originates from the Greek word for amber, tying back to the observation by ancient Greeks that rubbed amber attracts small objects like straw.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term electron is derived from the Greek word for amber. The ancient Greeks discovered that rubbing amber could attract small objects like bits of straw, which was one of the earliest observations of static electricity. The electron itself is a fundamental subatomic particle with a negative charge that is found in the outer parts of atoms, orbiting the nucleus. In modern physics, the electron plays a vital role in numerous phenomena and is key to understanding the structure of matter and the basics of chemistry.