What is the difference between Proton vs Neutron?

Simran Bhatia, 10 years ago

Grade:11

10 Answers

Pushkar Aditya

71 Points

10 years ago

There are many differences 1. Protons are positively charged while Neutrons are neutral. 2. Neutrons are slightly heavier as compared to Protons

Approved

Pushkar Aditya

71 Points

10 years ago

Proton was discovered by Rutherford while Neutron was discovered by James Chadwick.

Pushkar Aditya

71 Points

10 years ago

There are other differences at composition level of these particles.

KARTHIK

38 Points

10 years ago

A neutron is a subatomic particle. They are usually found in atomic nuclei. It is a particle that has no charge. It`s mass is slightly greater than a proton.A proton is a subatomic particle found in the nucleus of every atom . The particle has a positive electrical charge, equal and opposite to that of the electron .

Arpit Kumar

31 Points

10 years ago

At the composition level the proton and neutron are made up of 3 quarks.the proton is made up of 2 up quarks and 1 down quark whereas the neutron is made up 1 up quark and 2 down quarks.

kanakaraj

36 Points

10 years ago

Protons are particles found in the centre (the nucleus) of an atom. Their mass, by convention, is said to be 1. (not 1 gram, ounce or anything - just 1! - It`s a number used simply in order to compare it with the other two particles). Its electrical charge is +1 meaning it is positive Neutrons are also found in the nucleus along with the protons, and have also a mass of 1 (ie, they are the same as a proton in mass). However, as their name implies, they are electrically neutral having no charge. Electrons are found in `orbits` (actually just areas of space) outside the nucleus. Electrons have a mass of 1/1836 (i.e. nearly 2000 electrons are needed to weigh the same as a proton or neutron). They have an electrical charge of -1 meaning it has a negative charge (ie their charge is identical in strength but opposite to a proton.) Electrons are responsible for giving an element its chemical properties. as an example, all alkali metals (Lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, francium) have similar properties e.g. they react violently with water producing hydrogen, they form soluble hydroxides, they are soft, excellent conductors of heat and electricity and so on. These properties are a direct result of all the alkali metals having just one electron in the outermost `orbit` of their atoms. The halogens (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astatine) again all have similar properties to each other - and all have 7 electrons in their outermost orbits. Noble gases like helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon and radon all have full orbits of electrons - and as a result are chemically inert. The nucleus is where radioactive decay takes place - alpha particles (2 protons and 2 neutrons joined together) can be emitted, beta particles (electrons formed by the decay of a neutron into a proton and electron) can be emited, and gamma rays (short wave electromagnetic radiation) can also be emitted - and all three are emitted from the nucleus - hence the name `nuclear` reaction, from where we get the name `nuclear power` - power obtained from energy emitted by the decay of atomic nuclei, usually of the elements uranium and plutonium.