The Neutron and Neuton, the New Element of Atomic Number Zero

Abstract

SINCE neutrons were first recognised by Chadwick in the rays from the beryllium nucleus, it may be of interest to note that in 1915 the hydrogen-helium theory1 considered this nucleus to consist of two doubly charged helium nuclei and a condensed or nuclear hydrogen atom, now called a neutron. In a paper written early in 1919, the formula of the beryllium nucleus was given as α2(ββ) which in more recent symbols is 2(pe), where the parentheses were used to emphasise the idea that the proton p and the electron e are united to form a neutral group or neutron.