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Neutrons are electrically neutral subatomic particles that, along with protons, form the nucleus of an atom and are crucial for nuclear stability. They help counteract the electrostatic repulsion between protons through the strong nuclear force, preventing the nucleus from disintegrating. Variations in the number of neutrons lead to isotopes, making them essential for understanding elements and nuclear physics.

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Shannon John Chacko
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9 views1 page

Untitled Document

Neutrons are electrically neutral subatomic particles that, along with protons, form the nucleus of an atom and are crucial for nuclear stability. They help counteract the electrostatic repulsion between protons through the strong nuclear force, preventing the nucleus from disintegrating. Variations in the number of neutrons lead to isotopes, making them essential for understanding elements and nuclear physics.

Uploaded by

Shannon John Chacko
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A neutron is a subatomic particle that, along with protons, forms the nucleus of an atom.

Its
most defining characteristic is its lack of electric charge, making it an electrically neutral
particle. This neutrality is a key reason for its vital role in the atom's stability and in nuclear
reactions. The mass of a neutron is slightly greater than that of a proton, approximately 1.67
\times 10^{-27} kg. Because both protons and neutrons are located in the nucleus and are so
much more massive than electrons, they are collectively known as nucleons and account for
nearly all of an atom's mass. The number of neutrons in an atom can vary, leading to the
existence of isotopes—atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but
different numbers of neutrons.
The primary role of neutrons is to provide nuclear stability. Protons, being positively charged,
naturally repel each other due to the electromagnetic force. Without neutrons, the
electrostatic repulsion would cause the nucleus to fly apart. Neutrons, with their neutral
charge, act as a kind of "nuclear glue" by contributing to the strong nuclear force, a powerful
attractive force that binds protons and neutrons together. This force is strong enough to
overcome the electromagnetic repulsion between the protons, holding the nucleus in a
stable configuration. The delicate balance between the number of protons and neutrons is
crucial; if the ratio is too high or too low, the nucleus becomes unstable and may undergo
radioactive decay. This makes neutrons essential for the very existence of most elements
and for the study of nuclear physics.

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