How do you add a neutron to an atom?

Answer 1

The neutron is located in the nucleus along with the protons. Getting a neutron is easy. They're in every atom of every element except hydrogen, which only rarely has one (or even more rarely two) stuck to the proton in its nucleus. To get a neutron, one can wait around for a certain type of nuclear decay wherein one will be released. There are a number of isotopes which have neutron release as a (possible) decay scheme. Also, one could bombard different atoms with different ions and cause the release of a neutron or two. And there is always the spontaneous fission reaction of U235 or P239 which will kick out a neutron or three. But what are you going to do with it? In any mode of exit from an atom, 0n1 comes out very fast (with a lot of kinetic energy). It is penetrating radiation and is very dangerous. Neutrons really don't react with anything much other than atomic nuclei, which they slam into. This releases tremendous energy that can damage living tissue big time. And whether a neutron slows down (with the conversion of much of its kinetic energy into radiation that does severe tissue damage) or not, in the end, if it isn't absorbed by something (thereby activating it and making it radioactive), it spontaneously decays with a half life of about 15 minutes resulting in more radiation damage. Getting neutrons is something that should be done only with the greatest consideration.

Answer 2

Neutrons can be thought of as the combination of a proton and an electron, though there is a little more mass in them than in a proton and an electron.

Most neutrons are formed by the fusion of 4 hydrogen atoms (one proton and one electron) into helium (2 protons, 2 electrons, and 2 neutrons). This occurs mainly deep within stars.

Neutrons can be generated or obtained in a variety of ways. One is entirely natural - they are emitted when uranium-235 undergoes fission. They are generated when alpha particles collide with some atoms of low atomic weight, such as lithium, carbon, or oxygen. Gamma radiation colliding with certain isotopes, including deuterium and berrylium-9, produces neutrons. Fusion produces neutrons, and a fusor can be used for this. Neutrons are produced through a process called spallation when high energy protons impinge on heavy atoms such as lead or bismuth.

Free neutrons have a short half life, about 886 seconds, or a bit less than 15 minutes. When they decay, they emit a proton, an electron, and an electron antineutrino.

Answer 3

To add a neutron to an atom, you can use a nuclear reactor for large quantities with high efficiency. You can use a particle accelerator with a beryllium target (to generate neutrons) between the beam and the sample to do microgram quantities. (This approach was used to produce the Manhattan Project's first plutonium samples and for experiments in the 1930s in adding neutrons to atoms).

You can also use a hydrogen bomb (this is how the first samples of einsteinium and fermium were produced).

Answer 4

You subtract the Atomic number from the Atomic Mass.

Answer 5

The number of neutrons is the mass number of the atom minus its atomic number.

Answer 6

Only by nuclear reactions.