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Atoms never have two or more protons in their nucleus without having at least one neutron (or more). Protons don't like each other. They have a positive electrostatic charge, and like charges repel each other. So protons alone cannot make up an atomic nucleus. Enter, the neutron. When atoms are created by fusion, neutrons are included in the construction. They have to be. In fusion, the building blocks of a new atomic nucleus are "smooshed" together, and all of the particles undergo a mass change. Each nucleon loses a bit of mass, and that mass is converted into nuclear binding energy or nuclear glue. And it is this stuff that makes the protons stick together (with the neutrons). It takes protons and neutrons to contribute to the creation of binding energy to cause a nucleus to fuse together.

The hydrogen-1 isotope (the most abundant form of hydrogen) has no neutrons, which is possible because it only has one proton.

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15y ago
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13y ago

Neutrons play an important role in stabilizing the nucleus of an atom. The positively charged protons in the nucleus repel each other and cause the nucleus to be unstable. Existence of neutral neutrons can reduce the repulsive forces between the protons and hence stabilize the nucleus.

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13y ago

There are four known fundamental interactions between particles. The first two are better known- they are Gravity and Electromagnetism (the reason why protons and electrons are attracted.) The other two, are less well known and understood. They are "weak force" and "strong force". The latter is what holds neutrons and protons together.

It's a really abstract topic, and you really have to research it on your own to understand it better, but I hope that will serve as a decent starting point.

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15y ago

The nucleus contains DNA which tells the cell what to do.

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14y ago

The importance of neutrons of and atom is it may make the tom neutral which means it has no charge..And on the Ph schale it is a 7 which isn't basic nor acidic. Its neutral....

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13y ago

Neutrons have the attractive nuclear force, but not the repulsive electrostatical force.

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Q: Why are neutrons needed to hold the nucleus together?
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What is the primary role of the neutrons in the nucleus of an atom?

The primary role of the neutrons in the nucleus of an atom is to contribute to the binding energy or nuclear glue that holds the nucleus itself together. Recall that an atomic nucleus is made of protons and neutrons. Protons have a positive charge, and they don't like each other. In order to overcome the repulsive forces of the protons, neutrons are included in the structure to contribute to the so-called mass deficit. That phenomenon involves the nucleons (the protons and neutrons in a nucleus) losing a bit of mass that is converted into binging energy to hold the neucleus together.


How do the numbers of protons and neutrons compare in stable atoms?

The majority of stable atoms have slightly more neutrons than protons, but the numbers are similar. The biggest exception is hydrogen, which has a stable isotope having one proton and no neutrons. Many of the lighter elements have stable isotopes in which the number of protons and the number of neutrons is the same. But as the elements get heavier, we increasingly find that stable isotopes have more neutrons than protons. This is an understandable pattern. Protons, all of which have a positive charge, repel each other. It is the neutrons which act as a kind of nuclear glue, holding the nucleus together against the repulsive force that protons exert on each other. As the nucleus gets bigger, more neutrons are needed to hold it together.


How are gluon's involved in force within the atom?

Strong nuclear forces act through gluons in the nucleus


How do you make a nucleus of the atomic structure of neon?

Neon, with an atomic number of 10, and an atomic mass of roughly 20, will require 10 protons, neutrons, and electrons. The protons and neutrons will be inside the nucleus, or the center of the atom. The electrons will be outside the nucleus in the electron cloud, where a first ring or level will hold 2 and the second will hold 8.


How does the strong nucleus force hold the nucleus of an atom together?

The strong nuclear force, also called binding energy, holds quarks together to form protons and neutrons. Residual binding energy, also called the nuclear force, holds protons and neutrons together to form the nucleus of an atom. This holds true up to about atomic number 83 (bismuth), at which point the electromagnetic force, a repulsive force for protons, starts to overcome the distance barrier of binding energy and make the nucleus unstable. This makes the atoms starting at bismuth and above be radioactive. Additionally, the presence or absence of extra neutrons, i.e. isotopes, even in light nuclides, can, due to the weak interaction, makes the nucleus be unstable, and radioactive.

Related questions

What is the nucleus and what particles are found in the nucleus?

An atom's nucleus sits at the center and holds the atom's protons and neutrons. The protons and neutrons are themselves made of quarks (which make the protons and neutrons) and gluons (which hold the quarks together).


Neutrons help hold the nucleus together?

The force between nucleons is called nuclear force.


Why are neutrons in the nucleus of an atom if they have no charge?

well they aren't going to orbit if they have no charge. They hold the protons together. Protons, with the same charge, wouldn't stay together without neutrons.


What is the force needed to hold together a nucleus?

Nuclear force- it is a force that exists between two or more nucleons, it is responsible for the bonding of the neutrons and protons. The reason itself is much more complicated because it involves quarks which are smaller than protons or neutrons.


How do protons and neutrons hold an atom together?

The Strong nuclear force is what holds the protons and neutrons together in an atoms nucleus. Think of a gorilla with an atom of two protons and two neutrons together and his hands holding the atoms together.


Does a strong nuclear force hold the nucleus together?

Yes, the strong force carried by meson exchanges between protons and/or neutrons.


Which particles are within the atom?

Protons and neutrons are in nucleus. Electrons revolve around them


What is the primary role of the neutrons in the nucleus of an atom?

The primary role of the neutrons in the nucleus of an atom is to contribute to the binding energy or nuclear glue that holds the nucleus itself together. Recall that an atomic nucleus is made of protons and neutrons. Protons have a positive charge, and they don't like each other. In order to overcome the repulsive forces of the protons, neutrons are included in the structure to contribute to the so-called mass deficit. That phenomenon involves the nucleons (the protons and neutrons in a nucleus) losing a bit of mass that is converted into binging energy to hold the neucleus together.


Can the nucleus hold two or more protons?

A nucleus contain protons and neutrons. A nucleus can hold more protons - the number is equal to atomic number.


The stronger force between protons and neutrons in a small nucleus and a larger nucleus?

In a small nucleus, such as oxygen, xenon, or any of the lighter elements, the strong force generated by the protons and neutrons is stronger than the repulsion between protons, and the nucleus holds together. In a larger nucleus, such as uranium, curium, or the heavier elements, the strong force isn't strong enough to hold it together, and the electromagnetic force pulls it to pieces.


How do the numbers of protons and neutrons compare in stable atoms?

The majority of stable atoms have slightly more neutrons than protons, but the numbers are similar. The biggest exception is hydrogen, which has a stable isotope having one proton and no neutrons. Many of the lighter elements have stable isotopes in which the number of protons and the number of neutrons is the same. But as the elements get heavier, we increasingly find that stable isotopes have more neutrons than protons. This is an understandable pattern. Protons, all of which have a positive charge, repel each other. It is the neutrons which act as a kind of nuclear glue, holding the nucleus together against the repulsive force that protons exert on each other. As the nucleus gets bigger, more neutrons are needed to hold it together.


What other particle is found in the nucleus?

It appears that you have some confusion about the particle physics inside the nucleus. Nothing "separates protons so that the strong force can hold the nucleus together", the strong force acts via the exchange of particles called mesons. The atomic nucleus contains particles called protons and neutrons. The strong force binds the protons and neutrons together via the exchange of particles called mesons between those protons and neutrons.