View source for (n-p) reaction

{{one source |date=March 2024}}
The '''(n-p) reaction''', or '''(n,p) reaction''', is an example of a [[nuclear reaction]]. It is the reaction which occurs when a [[neutron]] enters a [[atomic nucleus|nucleus]] and a [[proton]] leaves the nucleus simultaneously.<ref>{{cite book
 |title=Elements Of Nuclear Reactors
 |last=Jha
 |first=D. K.
 |isbn=978-81-7141-883-1
 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P9K9nbveFnkC&pg=PA65
 |year=2004
 |publisher=Discovery Publishing House
 |page=65
}}</ref>

For example, [[sulfur-32]] (<sup>32</sup>S) undergoes an (n,p) nuclear reaction when [[neutron irradiation|bombarded with neutrons]], thus forming [[phosphorus-32]] (<sup>32</sup>P).

The nuclide [[nitrogen-14]] (<sup>14</sup>N) can also undergo an (n,p) nuclear reaction to produce [[carbon-14]] (<sup>14</sup>C). This nuclear reaction <sup>14</sup>N (n,p) <sup>14</sup>C continually happens in the Earth's atmosphere, forming equilibrium amounts of the radionuclide <sup>14</sup>C.

Most (n,p) reactions have threshold neutron energies below which the reaction cannot take place as a result of the charged particle in the exit channel requiring energy (usually more than a MeV) to overcome the [[Coulomb barrier]] experienced by the emitted proton. The (n,p) nuclear reaction <sup>14</sup>N (n,p) <sup>14</sup>C is an exception to this rule – it can take place at all incident neutron energies.{{cn|date=August 2017}} The <sup>14</sup>N (n,p) <sup>14</sup>C nuclear reaction is responsible for most of the radiation dose delivered to the human body by thermal neutrons – these thermal neutrons are absorbed by the nitrogen <sup>14</sup>N in proteins, causing a proton to be emitted; the emitted proton deposits its kinetic energy over a very short distance in the body tissue, thereby depositing radiation dose.

==References==
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{{Nuclear processes}}

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[[Category:Nucleosynthesis]]


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