Radiation Protection Glossary
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The neutron is a constituent of the
Nucleus
of an
Atom
and has an
Atomic Mass
unit of 1 (identical mass to a
Proton
). Unlike protons, the neutron does not carry an electrical charge. Its electrical neutrality allows it to take part in many types of nuclear reactions because it is not deflected by the positive charge of the protons. Neutrons are not themselves
Ionising
, but the by-products of their interactions are (in simple terms their interactions take the form of collisions with other sub-atomic particles where energy is transferred).
