Neutron dummy explanation

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I’m trying to simply things in dummy terms so I remember it easier rather than memorizing a definition I want to understand it on a basic level. A Neutron is an uncharged elementary particle that equals a protons mass in a nucleus this stabilizing it, I also know that in an atom there has to be equal amounts of neutrons and protons, and that the neutrons act as a sort of binder, so what sort of analogy or explanation could be used to describe it? Does a Neutron sort of act like the Mortar for a Brick Structure? Or like the glue that keeps protons from falling apart?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

>I also know that in an atom there has to be equal amounts of neutrons and protons, a

That is not true. You do have a 1:1 ratio for stable isotopes with 20 protons or below, but after that you need more neutrons the protons. Element 20 is Calcium and Ca-40 with 20 neutrons is sable. but when you reach Element 21 is Scandium it is Sc-45 that is stable and it has 25 neutrons this is a ratio of 1:1.25

Lead has 82 protons and that is the most of any stable element. The lightest stable isotope Pb-204. That means it has 204-82= 122 neutrons and a ratio of 1:1.51

If you look at elements with more protons you will find the one that has the longest half-life has proton to neutron ratio that grows. U-238 is the last found in larger amount in nature it has 92 protons and therefore 146 neutrons for a ratio of 1:1.59

It is possible to have fewer neutrons than protons and be a stable element, there is only two of them. Hydrogen-1 is the obvious answer, it only has a single proton and no neutron. Helium-3 is the other and is stable with 2 protons and 1 neutron.

Look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron%E2%80%93proton_ratio#/media/File:Isotopes_and_half-life.svg for a graph will element and the proton to neutron ratio. IT is the black squares that are stable and you see they diverge from the Z=N line which is a 1:1 ratio

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