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-as of [21 SEPTEMBER 2024]-
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(symbol n or n0)
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-the neutron is a ‘sub-atomic particle’ with NO ‘net electric charge’ and a ‘mass’ slightly ‘larger’ than that of a ‘proton’-
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*no electric charge*
*1 ‘up quark’*
*2 ‘down quarks’*
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(‘protons’ + ‘neutrons’ (each with ‘mass’ approximately 1 ‘atomic mass unit’) constitute the ‘nucleus’ of an ‘atom’, and they are collectively referred to as ‘nucleons’)
(their ‘properties’ + ‘interactions’ are described by ‘nuclear physics’)
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(the ‘nucleus’ consists of ‘Z’ protons…)
(‘Z’ –> ‘atomic #’)
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(…and ‘N’ neutrons…)
(‘N’ is the ‘neutron #’)
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(the ‘atomic #’ defines the ‘chemical properties’ of the ‘atom’, and the ‘neutron #’ determines the ‘isotope’ or ‘nuclide’)
(the terms ‘isotope’ and ‘nuclide’ are often used ‘synonymously’, but they refer to ‘chemical’ and ‘nuclear’ properties, respectively)
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(‘atomic mass NUMBER’ (symbol: ‘A’) = (‘Z’ + ‘N’)
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(some ‘elements’ occur in ‘nature’ with only 1 ‘stable isotope’, such as ‘fluorine’)
(for a ‘more thorough’ explanation, read up on ‘stable nuclides’)
(other ‘elements’ occur as many ‘stable isotopes’, such as ‘tin’ with ’10 stable isotopes’)
(define ‘stable’)
(is it COMPLETELY (“WITHOUT A DOUBT”) ‘STABLE’ UNDER ANY CONCEIVABLE CIRCUMSTANCE(S)’?)
(even though it is not a ‘chemical element’, the ‘neutron’ is included in the ‘table of nuclides’)
(within the ‘nucleus’, ‘protons’ + ‘neutrons’ are bound together through the ‘nuclear force’, and ‘neutrons’ are ‘required’ (“to maintain”?) the ‘stability’ of ‘nuclei’)
(‘neutrons’ are produced copiously in ‘nuclear fission’ and ‘fusion’)
(they are a ‘primary contributor’ to the ‘nucleosynthesis’ of ‘chemical elements’ within ‘stars’ through ‘fission’, ‘fusion’, and ‘neutron capture’ processes)
(the ‘neutron’ is essential to the production of ‘nuclear power’)
(in the ‘decade’ after the ‘neutron’ was discovered (‘1932’ – ‘1942’), ‘neutrons’ were used to effect many different types of ‘nuclear transmutations’)
(with the discovery of ‘nuclear fission’ in ‘1938’, it was quickly realized that, if a ‘fission event’ produced ‘neutrons’, each of these ‘neutrons’ might cause ‘further fission events’ (etc) in a ‘cascade’ known as a ‘nuclear chain reaction’)
(these ‘events’ and ‘findings’ led to the 1st ‘self-sustaining nuclear reactor’ (‘chicago pile-1’ / ‘1942’) and the 1st ”nuclear weapon’ (‘trinity’ / ‘1945’))
(‘free neutrons’ (or ‘individual neutrons’ free of the ‘nucleus’) are effectively a form of ‘ionizing radiation’, and as such, are a ‘biological hazard’, depending upon ‘dose’)
(a small natural “neutron background” flux of ‘free neutrons’ exists on ‘earth’, caused by ‘cosmic ray muons’, and by the ‘natural radioactivity’ of ‘spontaneously fissionable elements’ in the earth’s crust)
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(‘dedicated neutron sources’ (such as ‘neutron generators’, ‘research reactors’, and ‘spallation sources’ produce ‘free neutrons’ for use in ‘irradiation’ and in ‘neutron-scattering’ experiments)
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*👨🔬🕵️♀️🙇♀️*SKETCHES*🙇♂️👩🔬🕵️♂️*
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💕💝💖💓🖤💙🖤💙🖤💙🖤❤️💚💛🧡❣️💞💔💘❣️🧡💛💚❤️🖤💜🖤💙🖤💙🖤💗💖💝💘
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*🌈✨ *TABLE OF CONTENTS* ✨🌷*
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🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥*we won the war* 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥