Electrons

Electrons are very tiny particles that orbit the nucleus of atoms in a similar way to the planets orbiting the Sun, and have a negative electrical charge. This negative charge of one electron balances out the positive charge of one proton. Electrons are not solid objects but are bundles of energy that move at nearly the same speed as light. It is the flow of charge along a conductive material that is called an electric current. The bonding of electrons from different atoms is characteristic of certain materials. For example, in salt atoms give away or take in electrons (ionic bonding), in water atoms share their electrons (covalent bonding) and in metals the electrons flow around all the atoms (metallic bonding).