What is the relative mass of an electron?

The relative mass of an electron is considered to be very small compared to other subatomic particles, such as protons and neutrons. In fact, the mass of an electron is approximately 1/1836 that of a proton. This minute mass plays a crucial role in the behavior of atoms, particularly in the cloud of electrons that surrounds the nucleus. Electrons are essential in chemical bonding and reactions, but their low mass means they have negligible contribution to the overall mass of an atom.

While one might think of other options like 0, it is important to recognize that assigning a mass of zero to electrons is inaccurate; they do possess mass, albeit extremely small. Similarly, choosing 1 or 2 does not reflect the true nature of an electron's mass relative to more massive particles. The term "very small" accurately conveys that although electrons have mass, it is minimal compared to that of protons and neutrons, which is why this option is the most accurate representation of their relative mass.