Concept in Definition ABC

At the behest of the Physical, a neutron is that particle elemental, heavy, possessing a electric charge neutral and a mass approximately similar to that of the proton and that is part of the atomic nuclei together with the protons. Specifically, the neutron is made up of two down quarks and one up quark.

The half-life that the neutron presents outside the atomic nucleus is fifteen minutes, when it emits an antineutron and a electron to become a proton. Those neutrons that have a mass similar to protons turn out to be necessary for the stability of atomic nuclei, except for hydrogen.

Ernest Rutherford, physicist and chemical New Zealander was the first to proclaim in 1920 the existence of the neutron and then, from this is which was explained because nuclei do not disintegrate due to the electromagnetic repulsion of the protons.

Neutrons are the particles that act in nuclear reactions, which will occur when a neutron drives the fission of an atom generating a greater number of neutrons that at the same time generate new fissions. According to the way in which this reaction occurs, we will be faced with a

controlled reaction (The moderator of a nuclear reactor is used to take advantage of the nuclear energy) or before a uncontrolled reaction (a critical mass of fuel nuclear).

Nuclear fission It is a reaction that occurs within the nucleus of the atom and develops when the heavy nucleus is divided into smaller nuclei, in addition to other by-products, free neutrons and photons. In the case of fission of heavy nuclei, it is an exothermic process in which large quantities of Energy.

Neutron Topics