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Neutron - GCSE Chemistry Definition

Reviewed by: Richard Boole

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A neutron is a subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom, alongside protons. Neutrons have no electrical charge (they are neutral), unlike protons, which are positively charged. Neutrons and protons together make up most of an atom’s mass.

Neutrons help stabilise the nucleus by reducing the repulsion between the positively charged protons. Atoms of the same element can have different numbers of neutrons, forming isotopes. Understanding neutrons is important in GCSE Chemistry for topics like atomic structure, isotopes, and nuclear reactions.

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Richard Boole

Reviewer: Richard Boole

Expertise: Chemistry Content Creator

Richard has taught Chemistry for over 15 years as well as working as a science tutor, examiner, content creator and author. He wasn’t the greatest at exams and only discovered how to revise in his final year at university. That knowledge made him want to help students learn how to revise, challenge them to think about what they actually know and hopefully succeed; so here he is, happily, at SME.

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