Question

List some observations and conclusions Thomson made while performing the experiment used to discover the electron.

a) Observations: Electrons are negatively charged. Conclusions: Electrons are fundamental particles.
b) Observations: Electrons move in straight lines. Conclusions: Electrons are larger than protons.
c) Observations: Electrons are attracted to positively charged plates. Conclusions: Electrons are positively charged.
d) Observations: Electrons are made of protons and neutrons. Conclusions: Electrons are heavy particles.

Answer 1

J.J. Thomson observed that cathode rays were negatively charged particles and concluded that they were electrons, which are fundamental components of all atoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on his observations, J.J. Thomson proposed that the particles in the cathode rays were negatively charged. He concluded that these particles, which we now call electrons, were fundamental constituents of all atoms. Thomson also found that the mass-to-charge ratio of the cathode rays was independent of the nature of the electrodes or the gas, which further supported the idea that electrons were fundamental components of atoms. His experiments and conclusions played a crucial role in the discovery of the electron.