Strange Element
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The mysterious element not listed on any periodic table.
How does it look, smell, and taste?
Individual neutrons cannot be seen, smelled or tasted.
Since neutrons do not attract each other, there are no clumps of neutrons on Earth. Therefore, it is not surprising that neutrons are not listed in the periodic table of the elements. But there are stars made of this element.
How was it discovered?
Walther Bothe and Herbert Becker produced the neutron in 1930 and verified it with a measuring instrument, but they didn’t realize what they had discovered. It wasn’t until two years later that James Chadwick found out what kind of particle it was and called it a neutron. The average lifespan of individual free neutrons is just under 15 minutes.
Where does the name come from?
The neutron was so named because it is electrically neutral. It has the symbol ’n’. As an element, it is also called neutronium.
Where is it found?
Single neutrons are produced in nuclear reactors.
Astronomers have also captured images of stars made up only of neutrons.
What possible uses are there?
Neutrons are used in radiation therapy. Neutrons play an important role in nuclear fission as well.
Is it dangerous?
Yes! Neutron radiation is the most dangerous type of radioactive radiation. Image:Radiation warning symbol.svg|Radioactive
Written for younger readers
Strange Element, in simpler words
This version comes from Wikijunior, a set of books written for children aged 8 to 11. It is shorter and uses plainer language than the article above.
From Wikijunior: The Elements
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The mysterious element not listed on any periodic table.
Individual neutrons cannot be seen, smelled or tasted.
Since neutrons do not attract each other, there are no clumps of neutrons on Earth. Therefore, it is not surprising that neutrons are not listed in the periodic table of the elements. But there are stars made of this element.
Walther Bothe and Herbert Becker produced the neutron in 1930 and verified it with a measuring instrument, but they didn’t realize what they had discovered. It wasn’t until two years later that James Chadwick found out what kind of particle it was and called it a neutron. The average lifespan of individual free neutrons is just under 15 minutes.
The neutron was so named because it is electrically neutral. It has the symbol ’n’. As an element, it is also called neutronium.
Single neutrons are produced in nuclear reactors.
Astronomers have also captured images of stars made up only of neutrons.
Neutrons are used in radiation therapy. Neutrons play an important role in nuclear fission as well.
Yes! Neutron radiation is the most dangerous type of radioactive radiation. Image:Radiation warning symbol.svg|Radioactive
Where this page comes from
The article above is adapted from “Strange Element” on Simple English Wikipedia, by its contributors. We removed reference markers, navigation boxes and tables, expanded measurement templates into readable numbers, and kept the prose otherwise intact. The simpler version is adapted from Wikijunior on Wikibooks.
Both sources are published under CC BY-SA 4.0, so this page is published under the same licence. You may share and adapt it, including commercially, as long as you credit the original and keep the same licence.
Worksheets, answer keys and printable layouts elsewhere on K5Print are our own work and are not covered by this licence.