Question

All the gases form cathode rays and anode rays when electricity is passed through them.
(a) What does the formation of cathode rays tell us about the atoms?
(b) What does the formation of anode rays tell us about the atoms?

Answer 1

(a) When electricity is passed through gases, electrical energy pushes out some electrons from the atoms of the gas. These fast-moving electrons form cathode rays. Thus, the formation of cathode rays shows that one of the subatomic particle present in all the atoms is the negatively charged "electron".

(b) When electricity is passed through gases, electrical energy pushes out some electrons from the atoms of the gas and a positively charged particle proton is formed. These fast-moving protons form anode rays. Thus, the formation of anode rays shows that one of the subatomic particle present in all the atoms is the positively charged "proton".