Neutron magic number

Neutron magic numbers are specific counts of neutrons in an atomic nucleus that make the nucleus particularly stable. These numbers (like 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, and 126) correspond to complete energy layers within the nucleus, similar to how electrons occupy shells around an atom. When a nucleus has a magic number of neutrons, it tends to be more resistant to splitting or decay because the neutrons are arranged in a very stable configuration. These numbers are fundamental in nuclear physics and help explain why some isotopes are more common or more stable than others.