• Question: what is the chemical formula for the higgs-boson ?

    Asked by to Aled, Ellie, Fiona, Kev, Willem on 18 Mar 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Willem Heijltjes

      Willem Heijltjes answered on 18 Mar 2014:

      Hi Luke!

      (I hope I understand your question right..)

      A chemical formula is used to describe a *moleculeMATOMO_URL The Higgs Boson is not a molecule, but a sub-atomic particle! Here’s how these are connected:

      – molecules are made of atoms
      – atoms are made of neutrons, protons, and electrons
      – neutrons, protons, and electrons are made of sub-atomic particles
      – there are 4 families of sub-atomic particles:
      * six “quarks” – neutrons and protons are made of quarks
      * six “leptons” – one of them is the electron
      * twelve “gauge bosons” – these carry forces (but not gravity)
      * one “higgs boson”! 😉

    • Photo: Aled Roberts

      Aled Roberts answered on 19 Mar 2014:

      Spot on answer by Willem!

      🙂

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