Which of the following represents the correct increasing order of specific charge ( ratio) for an el — Atomic Structure Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

The specific charge is the ratio of charge to mass ($e/m$). For a neutron, charge is $0$, so $e/m = 0$. For an $\alpha$ -particle ($He^{2+}$), $e/m = 2/4 = 0.5$ relative units. For a proton, $e/m = 1/1 = 1$ relative unit. For an electron, the mass is extremely small ($1/1837$ of a proton), so its $e/m$ is exceptionally large. Hence, the order is $n < \alpha < p < e$. [5, 6]