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5.ATOMIC STRUCTURE eLearn.Punjab

Animation 5.6: chad wicks experiment
Source & Credit : sites.google

5.1.6 Properties of Neutron

1. Free neutron decays into a proton +1P with the emission of an electron -10e and a neutrino 0 n .
0

01n → +11P + -10e + 00n

2. Neutrons cannot ionize gases.

3. Neutrons are highly penetrating particles.

4. They can expel high speed protons from paraffin, water, paper and cellulose.

5. When neutrons travel with an energy 1.2 Mev (Mega electron volt 106), they are called fast

neutrons but with energy below 1ev are called slow neutrons. Slow neutrons are usually more

effective than fast ones for the fission purposes.

6. When neutrons are used as projectiles, they can carry out the nuclear reactions. A fast

n eutron ejects an a-particle from the nucleus of nitrogen atom and boron is produced, alongwith

and a-particles.

14 N +10 n →151 B + 4 He
7 2

7. When slow moving neutrons hit the Cu metal then γ gamma radiations are emitted. The

radioactive 2696Cu is converted into 66 Zn
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65 Cu +10 n →66 Cu + hv(γ - raditions)
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2696Cu → 66 Zn + -10e (electron)
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