Neutron

atom · physics · particle

Part of the nucleus. Neutrons live in the center of an atom along with protons, forming the heavy core that holds the atom together.

No electric charge. Unlike protons which are positive or electrons which are negative, neutrons are electrically neutral, which is how they got their name.

Discovered in 1932. A scientist named James Chadwick found neutrons by doing clever experiments with atoms, which was a huge breakthrough in understanding how matter works.

Slightly heavier than protons. Neutrons weigh just a tiny bit more than protons, but this small difference matters a lot in nuclear reactions.

Key to nuclear energy. Neutrons can split apart heavy atoms in a process called fission, which releases enormous amounts of energy used in nuclear power plants.