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Atoms never have two or more protons in their nucleus without having at least one neutron (or more). Protons don't like each other. They have a positive electrostatic charge, and like charges repel each other. So protons alone cannot make up an atomic nucleus. Enter, the neutron. When atoms are created by fusion, neutrons are included in the construction. They have to be. In fusion, the building blocks of a new atomic nucleus are "smooshed" together, and all of the particles undergo a mass change. Each nucleon loses a bit of mass, and that mass is converted into nuclear binding energy or nuclear glue. And it is this stuff that makes the protons stick together (with the neutrons). It takes protons and neutrons to contribute to the creation of binding energy to cause a nucleus to fuse together.

The hydrogen-1 isotope (the most abundant form of hydrogen) has no neutrons, which is possible because it only has one proton.

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16y ago
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3mo ago

Neutrons are needed to hold the nucleus together because they help balance the repulsive forces between positively charged protons. Without neutrons, the nucleus would be unstable due to the electrostatic repulsion between protons, causing it to break apart. Neutrons provide an attractive nuclear force that overcomes this repulsion, helping to bind the protons and stabilize the nucleus.

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13y ago

Neutrons play an important role in stabilizing the nucleus of an atom. The positively charged protons in the nucleus repel each other and cause the nucleus to be unstable. Existence of neutral neutrons can reduce the repulsive forces between the protons and hence stabilize the nucleus.

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13y ago

There are four known fundamental interactions between particles. The first two are better known- they are Gravity and Electromagnetism (the reason why protons and electrons are attracted.) The other two, are less well known and understood. They are "weak force" and "strong force". The latter is what holds neutrons and protons together.

It's a really abstract topic, and you really have to research it on your own to understand it better, but I hope that will serve as a decent starting point.

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15y ago

The nucleus contains DNA which tells the cell what to do.

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14y ago

The importance of neutrons of and atom is it may make the tom neutral which means it has no charge..And on the Ph schale it is a 7 which isn't basic nor acidic. Its neutral....

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13y ago

Neutrons have the attractive nuclear force, but not the repulsive electrostatical force.

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Q: Why are neutrons needed to hold the nucleus together?
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What is the primary role of the neutrons in the nucleus of an atom?

The primary role of neutrons in the nucleus of an atom is to provide stability by balancing the repulsive forces between positively charged protons. Neutrons help hold the nucleus together through the strong nuclear force without adding additional electrical repulsion.


How do mesons hold protons and neutrons together?

Mesons hold protons and neutrons together by mediating the strong nuclear force between them. This force is carried by the exchange of mesons between quarks inside the protons and neutrons. The strong nuclear force is responsible for binding protons and neutrons together in the atomic nucleus.


What would happen if binding energy of a nucleus was zero?

If the binding energy of a nucleus was zero, the nucleus would not be stable and would disintegrate. The nucleus relies on the binding energy to hold its protons and neutrons together. Without this binding energy, the nucleus would break apart into individual protons and neutrons.


The binding energy of an atomic nucleus is the energy equivalent to the atom's?

The binding energy of an atomic nucleus is the energy equivalent to the mass defect, which is the difference between the mass of the nucleus and the sum of the masses of its individual protons and neutrons. This energy is needed to hold the nucleus together and is released during nuclear reactions, such as fusion or fission.


Positive part of the nucleus?

The positive part of the nucleus is the protons, which have a positive charge. Protons are located within the nucleus of an atom, along with neutrons. The positive charge of the protons helps hold the nucleus together through electromagnetic forces.

Related questions

What does binding energy measure?

The energy used to hold the nucleus together


What is the nucleus and what particles are found in the nucleus?

An atom's nucleus sits at the center and holds the atom's protons and neutrons. The protons and neutrons are themselves made of quarks (which make the protons and neutrons) and gluons (which hold the quarks together).


Neutrons help hold the nucleus together?

The force between nucleons is called nuclear force.


Why are neutrons in the nucleus of an atom if they have no charge?

well they aren't going to orbit if they have no charge. They hold the protons together. Protons, with the same charge, wouldn't stay together without neutrons.


What is the force needed to hold together a nucleus?

Nuclear force- it is a force that exists between two or more nucleons, it is responsible for the bonding of the neutrons and protons. The reason itself is much more complicated because it involves quarks which are smaller than protons or neutrons.


What is the primary role of the neutrons in the nucleus of an atom?

The primary role of neutrons in the nucleus of an atom is to provide stability by balancing the repulsive forces between positively charged protons. Neutrons help hold the nucleus together through the strong nuclear force without adding additional electrical repulsion.


How do protons and neutrons hold an atom together?

Protons and neutrons are held together in the nucleus of an atom by the strong nuclear force, one of the four fundamental forces in nature. This force overcomes the mutual repulsion between positively charged protons and stabilizes the nucleus. Additionally, the presence of neutrons helps to increase the attractive nuclear force, contributing to the stability of the nucleus.


How do mesons hold protons and neutrons together?

Mesons hold protons and neutrons together by mediating the strong nuclear force between them. This force is carried by the exchange of mesons between quarks inside the protons and neutrons. The strong nuclear force is responsible for binding protons and neutrons together in the atomic nucleus.


Does a strong nuclear force hold the nucleus together?

Yes, the strong force carried by meson exchanges between protons and/or neutrons.


What would happen if binding energy of a nucleus was zero?

If the binding energy of a nucleus was zero, the nucleus would not be stable and would disintegrate. The nucleus relies on the binding energy to hold its protons and neutrons together. Without this binding energy, the nucleus would break apart into individual protons and neutrons.


The binding energy of an atomic nucleus is the energy equivalent to the atom's?

The binding energy of an atomic nucleus is the energy equivalent to the mass defect, which is the difference between the mass of the nucleus and the sum of the masses of its individual protons and neutrons. This energy is needed to hold the nucleus together and is released during nuclear reactions, such as fusion or fission.


Which particles are within the atom?

Protons and neutrons are in nucleus. Electrons revolve around them