neutron

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neutron (symbol n) Uncharged elementary particle that occurs in the atomic nuclei of all chemical elements except the lightest isotope of hydrogen. It is classified as a baryon with spin 1/2. Outside the nucleus, it is unstable, decaying with a half-life of 11.6 minutes into a proton, electron, and antineutrino. Its neutrality allows it to penetrate and be absorbed in nuclei and thus to induce nuclear transmutation and fission.

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