The nucleus of a deuterium atom, consisting of one proton and one neutron bound together; used in nuclear physics and chemistry research.
From deuterium plus the suffix '-on' (used in physics for particles). The word entered English in the 1930s when scientists studying nuclear physics needed a name for this heavy hydrogen nucleus.
Deuterons were crucial in early nuclear physics experiments—smashing them into other nuclei helped scientists understand what's holding atoms together, and they're still used today in research and medical treatments.
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