The first thing to do is proceed to determine the etymological origin of the word neutron that now concerns us. In this way, we would have to clarify that it emanates from Latin and more specifically from the word neuer, which consists of two distinct parts: the prefix ne-, which is equivalent to a denial, and uter, which can be translated as "one or the other".
A neutron is a massive particle without electric charge . It's about a baryon (a subatomic particle composed of three quarks) formed by two quarks below and a quark above. Neutrons and protons constitute the cores of the atoms .
The neutron has a half-life of about fifteen minutes outside the atomic nucleus, when it emits a electron and a antineutron To become a proton. Neutrons, which have a mass similar to protons, are necessary for the stability of atomic nuclei (with the exception of hydrogen).
The New Zealand physicist and chemist Ernest Rutherford was the one who proclaimed, in 1920 , the existence of the neutron. In this way he explained why the nuclei do not disintegrate due to the electromagnetic repulsion of the protons.
Neutrons act in the nuclear reactions , which occur when a neutron drives the fission of an atom and generates a greater number of neutrons, which, in turn, causes new fissions. According to how this reaction occurs, one can speak of a controlled reaction (the moderator of a nuclear reactor is used to harness nuclear energy) or uncontrolled reaction (a critical mass of nuclear fuel is produced).
In addition to all of the above, we would have to make clear the existence of another series of terms that are also based on the use of the word that concerns us now. This would be the case of slow neutron, which is the one that has the peculiarity that it has a speed that has the same order as that which it has, at normal temperature, what is molecular agitation.
In the same way, we must not forget the fast neutron. As its own name indicates, it is the one that counts as a sign of identity the fact that its speed is comparable to that of the light.
To all this we should also add the term neutron bomb. This, also known as an increased direct radiation bomb, is a nuclear weapon that has its origin in the United States. It was created in the decade of the 70s by the hand of physicist Samuel Cohen and is fundamentally based on what nuclear fission is.
After a break in his advances, it was President Ronald Reagan who supported the projects of this nuclear bomb of great danger.
The Nuclear fision Therefore, it is a reaction that occurs in the nucleus of the atom. Fission takes place when the heavy nucleus is divided into smaller nuclei, in addition to other by-products such as free neutrons and photons. The fission of heavy nuclei, therefore, is an exothermic process in which large amounts of energy are released.
