Neutrons are essential for the stability of the nucleus because they counteract the repulsive forces between protons. Question 7 options: True False

True

Step-by-step explanation:

1. The nucleus of an atom contains protons and neutrons.
2. Protons are positively charged particles, and like charges repel each other due to electrostatic forces.
3. Neutrons are neutral particles, meaning they have no charge.
4. Neutrons contribute to the nuclear force, which is a strong attractive force that acts between all nucleons (protons and neutrons) in the nucleus.
5. This nuclear force is much stronger than the electrostatic repulsive force between protons, but it acts over a very short range.
6. By adding neutrons to the nucleus, the nuclear force is increased, which helps to counteract the repulsive forces between the positively charged protons.
7. Therefore, neutrons are essential for the stability of the nucleus because they help to balance the repulsive forces between protons, making the nucleus more stable.