View source for Neutron

[[Image:310px-Beta Negative Decay svg.png|right|thumb|300px|The Feynmann diagram of a neutron decaying ([[beta decay|beta minus decay]])]]
A '''neutron''' is the neutral particle in an [[atom]]'s [[nucleus]]. It is a [[baryon]], comprised of two down [[quark]]s and an up [[quark]]. It keeps the positive protons in the nucleus from being pushed apart from each other by their like charges. A lack or excess of neutrons causes an atom to become unstable; [[beta decay|beta radiation]] is the conversion of a neutron into a [[proton]] which emits an [[electron]] and an [[anti-electron neutrino]]. Although neutrons comprise a large part of all matter, they are inherently unstable if not bound to a nucleus, and undergoes beta minus decay in a brief period of time, with a half life of about 15 minutes.<ref>https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2014/02/toward-new-precision-measuring-neutron-lifetime</ref>

==See also==

*[[Atom]]
*[[Proton]]
*[[Electron]]
*[[Periodic table of the elements]]
*[[Quark]]
*[[nucleon]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

*[https://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Science/2007/09/18/study_contradicts_neutron_theory/8801/ Study contradicts neutron theory]

[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:Subatomic Particles]]