Science Education Home Home Teachers Students Games Videos VA SOL Programs

Glossary

Neutron Emission

After neutron emission, an atom contains one less neutron.

Neutron emission is one process that unstable atoms can use to become more stable. During neutron emission, a neutron is ejected from an atom's nucleus.

Since the number of protons within an atom doesn't change during neutron emission, it doesn't change from one element to another. It does, however, become a different isotope of that element. For example, after undergoing neutron emission, an atom of beryllium-13 (with 9 neutrons) becomes an atom of beryllium-12 (with 8 neutrons).

Citation and linking information

For questions about this page, please contact Steve Gagnon.