Final answer:
Electrons have the smallest mass, followed by protons, and then neutrons with the largest mass. The order of increasing mass for these subatomic particles is electron, proton, and neutron.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks us to arrange subatomic particles in order of increasing mass. The three subatomic particles in question are the electron, proton, and neutron. Atoms are composed of these particles, with electrons orbiting the nucleus which contains protons and neutrons, collectively known as nucleons. When comparing the masses of subatomic particles, it is essential to note that an electron is significantly less massive than either a proton or a neutron. In fact, a single electron has about 1/2000th the mass of a proton. On the other hand, protons and neutrons have nearly the same mass, but the neutron is slightly more massive than the proton.
To arrange them in order of increasing mass, we start with the electron, followed by the proton, and lastly, the neutron. Therefore, the correct order is:
- Electron
- Proton
- Neutron
The electron's mass is approximately 0.0005 atomic mass units (amu), whereas protons and neutrons have masses close to 1 amu, specifically with protons at approximately 1 amu and neutrons slightly above that.