Proton and neutron are the particles that are found at the center of an atom and both particles comprise the nucleus. Apart from electrons, protons and neutrons form the nucleus of an atom. In this article, we will discuss what is the difference between proton and neutron.
Contents
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Difference between Proton and Neutron in tabular form
| Proton | Neutron |
| It is a positively charged particle. | This particle has no charge i.e. neutral. |
| It is found in the nucleus of an atom. | It is also found in the nucleus of an atom. |
| It is represented by ‘p’. | It is represented by ‘n’. |
| This particle is found in the nucleus of all atoms. | This particle is found in the nucleus of all atoms except the hydrogen atom. |
| Proton was first observed by Eugen Goldstein but named by Ernest Rutherford. | Neutron was discovered by James Chadwick. |
| The mass of a proton is 1.67 × 10-27 Kg. | The mass of a neutron is 1.67 × 10-27 Kg. |
| The charge on a proton is 1.602 × 10-19 C. | The charge on a neutron is 0 C. |
| It only takes part in nuclear reactions. | It only gets exposed to nuclear reactions. |
| The relative charge on the proton is +1. | The relative charge on the neutron is 0. |
| The relative mass of the proton is 1. | The relative mass of the neutron is 1. |
Conclusion
The main difference between proton and neutron is that proton is a positively charged particle whereas neutron is an uncharged particle.
