outer electrons
What outer electrons means in Physics GCSE, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of outer electrons
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Reference: AQA
The electrons held least tightly, so they are the ones that can be pulled away by rubbing two surfaces together or by ionising radiation.
The electrons held least tightly, which are the ones lost when an atom becomes a positive ion.
Topics that use outer electrons
- Mass number, atomic number and isotopes (AQA GCSE)
- The structure of an atom (AQA GCSE)
Related terms
- neutral atoms
- absorption and emission
- atomic number
- counting neutrons
- electron arrangement
- electrons
- empty space
- energy levels
Using outer electrons in the exam
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