Reply #16: I believe main point is correct, I am quite sure a neutron weighs slightly [View All]

more than a proton. According to Linus Pauling .14% more. Reference L.Pauling's: General Chemistry. It`s my understanding that a neutron in some way not fully understood, is a proton with an electron fused to it and that during radioactive decay one of the reactions that takes place is the emitting of an electron leaving a proton where a neutron once existed thereby moving that atom 1 position to the right on the periodic table. Another reaction that takes place during radio active decay is the emitting of an alpha particle which can be described as the nucleus of a helium atom [ 2 protons fused to 2 neutrons } this moves that atom 2 spaces to the left on the periodic table because of the loss of 2 protons. As far as I know when listing atomic masses, the average of all the isotopes of any given element are averaged in, often with a + or - a certain percent.You`ve been helpful to me and I do appreciate your interest...Oscar