What is the role of a neutron in nucleus?

Answer 1

I assume you know that like charges repel each other.

The protons (+ charge) of the atomic nucleus would fly apart without the extra mass of the neutrons to help hold it together. (It's more than just mass, the strong force is involved too.)

Only hydrogen lacks a neutron, as a single proton holds together quite nicely.

Answer 2

Neutrons help hold the nucleus together by balancing out the repulsive forces between positively charged protons. They also contribute to the stability of the nucleus and help determine the isotope of an atom.

Answer 3

The neutron is the great mediator in the nucleus of the atom (with silly hydrogen being an exception). The law of electrostatics says opposites attract and likes repel. Protons packed together in the nucleus attract the electrons (which then form up in shells) to form atoms. "Wait a minute!" you're saying. "If opposites attract and likes repel, what keeps the protons together in the nucleus?" Glad you asked. What happens when protons and neutrons are all smashed together in a system with thermal energy that is almost off the chart (like inside a star), is that protons and neutrons are fused together. The neutrons and protons all go on a mini-diet and lose some weight (mass) that is converted into binding energy or nuclear glue to hold the whold thing together. Presto! Nuclear fusion. A natural phenomenon that is impossible without neutrons. Neutrons are also used to irradiate things. Even to change them in a process called activation. We might call this neutron bombardment. Atoms of something like, say, cobalt-59 absorb neutrons to become cobalt-60, which is radioactive. It releases gamma rays, and by lowering a fixed amount of cobalt-59 into an operating nuclear reactor, we can activate the cobalt to make a radioactive source for something like portable X-ray sources or for a radiation source in an industrial "irradiator" which is used to sterilize something like, say, bad aids. The little bandages can't be heated enough to sterilize them without damaging them. Enter a gamma ray source. It kills bugs dead. We've just opened the door here, but you can see what was behind it. This is a great place to begin thinking about the neutron and adding to your knowledge of this, the last of the "big three" (electron, proton and neutron) to be discovered. Need some links? You got 'em. Look below.

Answer 4

It helps stabilize the nucleus. Protons alone would fly apart, due to their electrostatic force. The additional strong force of the neutrons (without a corresponding electrostatic repulsion) keeps the nucleus together.

Answer 5

gives the atom its Atomic Mass and stablisises the atom to keep the ratio of protons to neutrons equal... like if it wasnt in a close ratio the atom would be very unstable causing it to collapse and break. such as why the futher we get down the peridic table the less the atoms actually exist.

Answer 6

If a nucleus contained no neutrons, there would only be protons all with a positive charge which would be very unstable. Neutrons help space out the positive charges and bind the nucleus together.

Answer 7

It helps keep the nucleus together, through the strong force. If you had only protons (more than one, i.e., in elements other than hydrogen), the electrostatic repulsive force would be stronger than the strong force - and the nucleus would quickly fly apart.

Answer 8

It helps keep the nucleus of most atoms together, through the "strong force".

Answer 9

Neutrons balance the repelling force of protons. The nucleus is held together due to the attraction between the quarks in the protons and neutrons.

Answer 10

neutrons add mass but they have a zero charge