distantelectron
nounUK /ˈdɪstənt ɪˈlɛktrɒn/
US /ˈdɪstənt ɪˈlɛktrɑːn/
An electron that is far away from the center of its atom.
The distant electron barely feels the pull of the nucleus.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. An electron located in a high-energy shell far from the atomic core.
Chemists study the distant electron to understand bonding.
3. A signal electron detected far from its source.
The sensor picked up a distant electron from the solar wind.
4. An electron separated from its partner by a large gap.
In the experiment, the distant electron drifted away from the pair.