Chemistry Regents Practice Test

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Study for the Chemistry Regents Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Master the curriculum and get ready to excel in your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

Which particle is recognized as having the least mass?

Proton
Neutron
Beta particle
Alpha particle

The correct answer is: Beta particle

The beta particle is indeed recognized as having the least mass among the options provided. A beta particle is essentially an electron (or a positron) that is emitted during the process of beta decay of a nucleus. Electrons, which make up beta particles, have a very small mass—approximately 1/1836 of the mass of a proton. In contrast, protons and neutrons, which make up the nucleus of an atom, have much greater masses—about 1 atomic mass unit each. The alpha particle, consisting of two protons and two neutrons (essentially a helium nucleus), has a significant mass compared to both protons, neutrons, and beta particles. Therefore, the beta particle, being the lightest, is the correct answer in this context. Understanding the relative masses of these particles is fundamental in nuclear chemistry and particle physics.