Chadwick's Experiment

Chadwick's Experiment, conducted by physicist James Chadwick in 1932, discovered the neutron, a neutral particle found in atomic nuclei. By bombarding beryllium with alpha particles, he observed that the emitted radiation could not be explained by known particles (protons and electrons). This led him to conclude that a new, neutral particle was present, which he named the neutron. This discovery was crucial in understanding atomic structure, as neutrons contribute to the mass of atoms and play a key role in nuclear reactions, leading to advancements in both physics and chemistry, including the development of nuclear energy and weapons.