Discovery of Neutron

Atomic physics was enriched with the late discovery of the neutron in 1932 by Chadwick. Neutron was discovered at the peak of the Second World War, when counties were engaged in an arms race and developing newer and sustainable methods of weapon manufacture and efficiency. Before the discovery of electron, proton, and neutron, there was a roughly estimated model of the sub-particle atom in chemistry but its properties were still under scrutiny. The discovery of protons and neutrons will open a new age of experimentation and study in molecular and atomic physics. The discovery of electrons, protons, neutrons was revolutionary. 

Discovery of Electron, Proton, and Neutron

The discovery of electron, proton, and neutron brought forth many scientific breakthroughs and rearranged the understanding of atoms and their properties. The nucleus of the atom was thought to be made up of neutrons and protons alone. However, the fundamental makeup of the atom and its sub-particles were made in Chadwick’s report on the model of the nucleus and the atom where the neutron was discovered. This elementary particle was said to be different from protons and electrons and completely turned the idea of the atom. It was also discovered that this new particle, the neutron, was not charged like protons or electrons but was neutral. The discovery of electrons, protons, and neutrons did change the scientific landscape. The discovery of the neutron was tied up with the continued investigations into radioactive rays and nuclear science. The atomic nucleus was discovered through an experiment involving the gold foil. Before the discovery of neutrons, isotopes, molecular numbers and Moseley’s Law and associated topics were already widely and heatedly discussed in scientific circles. 

Discovery of Proton and Neutron

James Chadwick found the neutron through several experiments performed on examining the properties of gamma rays. Proton as a subatomic particle was discovered in 1920 by Ernest Rutherford. It is positively charged. It is denoted by the symbol p+. It has a charge of +1e. There are either many or one proton that makes up the nucleus of an atom. The portion numbers in an atom are responsible for the creation of the distinctive property of the atom. Earnest Rutherford had also discovered the hydrogen nucleus. They were previously considered elementary particles but now protons are known as composite particles. The discovery of the sub-particle neutron was just as revolutionary as the proton. Neutron is represented as n0. There are a lot of similarities in the way protons and neutrons behave. The discovery of protons and neutrons was a revolutionary feat.  

Properties of Neutron

The properties of the neutron are as follows:

• Neutrons are neutral as they do not have any positive or negative charge
• Penetrative ability 
• Microscopically magnetic
• Ideal probe for molecular and atomic structures
• Millielectronvolts (meV) is the energies they have
• They can showcase hydrogen nuclease and are randomly sensitive

Contribution of the Discovery of Neutron

The discovery of electrons, protons, and neutrons contributed greatly to the study of subatomic particles. The discovery of electrons in 1897 by Thomson created ripples in the scientific world which were doubled by the discoveries of protons and neutrons. The discovery of neutrons also facilitated advanced nuclear technology and expanded the scope of elementary science and physics. 

Conclusion

The nucleus of the atom was thought to be made up of neutrons and protons alone. However, the fundamental makeup of the atom and its sub-particles were made in Chadwick’s report on the model of the nucleus and the atom where the neutron was discovered. Through this discovery, the atomic structure was refined, and wavelengths, as well as radioactivity, were studied extensively.