<Tr> <Th> Weak isospin </Th> <Td> LH: − 1 / 2, RH: 0 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Weak hypercharge </Th> <Td> LH: - 1, RH: − 2 </Td> </Tr> <P> The electron is a subatomic particle, symbol e − or β −, with a negative elementary electric charge . Electrons belong to the first generation of the lepton particle family, and are generally thought to be elementary particles because they have no known components or substructure . The electron has a mass that is approximately 1 / 1836 that of the proton . Quantum mechanical properties of the electron include an intrinsic angular momentum (spin) of a half - integer value, expressed in units of the reduced Planck constant, ħ . As it is a fermion, no two electrons can occupy the same quantum state, in accordance with the Pauli exclusion principle . Like all elementary particles, electrons exhibit properties of both particles and waves: they can collide with other particles and can be diffracted like light . The wave properties of electrons are easier to observe with experiments than those of other particles like neutrons and protons because electrons have a lower mass and hence a longer De Broglie wavelength for a given energy . </P> <P> Electrons play an essential role in numerous physical phenomena, such as electricity, magnetism, chemistry and thermal conductivity, and they also participate in gravitational, electromagnetic and weak interactions . Since an electron has charge, it has a surrounding electric field, and if that electron is moving relative to an observer it will generate a magnetic field . Electromagnetic fields produced from other sources (not those self - produced) will affect the motion of an electron according to the Lorentz force law . Electrons radiate or absorb energy in the form of photons when they are accelerated . Laboratory instruments are capable of trapping individual electrons as well as electron plasma by the use of electromagnetic fields . Special telescopes can detect electron plasma in outer space . Electrons are involved in many applications such as electronics, welding, cathode ray tubes, electron microscopes, radiation therapy, lasers, gaseous ionization detectors and particle accelerators . </P>

Subatomic particle that has a negative charge is called